Hubballi: Ganesha festival at Idgah Maidan row - Effigies of CM Siddaramaiah, Rahul Gandhi burnt

Hubballi: Protestors burnt a portrait of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and an effigy of Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday evening over the delay in permission to install the Ganesh idol at the Idgah Maidan in Hubballi.

BJP representatives are protesting here against the alleged delay in providing permission to hold Ganeshotsav at Idgah Maidan.

The BJP accused the Hubballi-Dharwad Mahanagara Palike Commissioner Eshwar Ullagaddi of delaying a decision to grant permission for the event. Protesters alleged that the local authorities were causing the delay due to pressure from the Congress government in the state.

The BJP has urged the commissioner to grant permission, as the Municipal Corporation has passed a resolution permitting the celebration of Lord Ganesh festival at the venue – Idgah Maidan at Chennamma Circle, by installing a Ganesh idol.

Meanwhile, the High Court of Karnataka, on Friday, refused to stay the execution and operation of a resolution by the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation allowing four associations to celebrate the Ganesha festival at the Hubbali Idgah Maidan.

The petition filed by Anjuman-E-Islam on Thursday, challenging the August 31 resolution, was heard on Friday by Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum at the Dharwad bench of the HC. Apart from the HDMC, the Mayor and the State Urban Development Department were made the parties.

(With PTI inputs)