‘Gudi Padwa event can be held with Sadhvi’

MUMBAI: Bombay High Court on Friday permitted, with certain conditions, an event to be held on March 30 in Malegaon on the occasion of Gudi Padwa, where former Member of Parliament (MP) Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has agreed to speak.
Sadhvi, who is on bail, is one of the several accused facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
The local police had not yet granted permission to hold a Virat Hindu Sant Sammelan, said a petition filed by Rahul Bachhav (28), coordinator of Sakal Hindu Samaj, which organised the event proposed to be held between 6pm and 10pm in Malegaon.
His counsel, Subhash Jha, sought permission from HC, saying eminent leaders Sangram Bhandare, Milind Ekbote, Swami Pragyanand Maharaj, president of Akhil Bharatiya Sant Samiti, Maharashtra, and Nilesh Chandra, founder of Mahavir Mission Trust, Bhagyanagar, were the other speakers.
The local administration from Nashik district collectorate informed HC that if conditions were placed, permission could be granted.
HC thus directed that the event be held for any four hours between 7am and 5pm, while ensuring that no inflammatory or provocative speeches are made.
On March 25 the Executive Magistrate-cum-Tehsildar, Malegaon wrote to the organisers that Chhavani Police Station felt the proposed gathering is likely to create a law and order situation and permission ought not to be given, hence permission was refused.
The Govt lawyer Neha Bhide showed the HC six documents with a report of the district superintendent that “some speakers are are prone to making inflammatory speeches which are likely to hurt the feelings and sentiments of people belonging to different religions.’’
The HC bench of Justices SG Dige and Ashwin Bhobhe after hearing “long and heated submissions ‘’ on both sides, said it was “briefed on a somewhat tense situation.’’ The HC order said, “India has celebrated its 78 years of independence and 75 years of the Constitution of India’’ adding how India “is now acknowledged to be one of the most progressive countries in the world’’ and said “India has made remarkable strides on the global stage, emerging as a key player in various domains, from technology and space exploration to economic growth and diplomacy.’’
The HC Judges also said, “As the world’s fifth largest economy, India continues to be a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing, solidifying its position as a crucial driver of global development.’’ Justice Dige and Justice Bhobhe mentioned India’s milestones in science with “ successful Chandrayaan and Aditya L1 missions, demonstrating its growing prowess in space exploration.’’ They also observed, “On the geopolitical front, India’s diplomatic influence has expanded with strategic partnerships across continents and a pivotal role in global forum, like G20, BRICS and the United Nations.’’
The HC order referred to India’s “young and dynamic population’’ and observed, “India continues to shape the future of global trade, innovation and culture, reinforcing its status as a rising super power with a vision for inclusiveness and sustainable progress.’’
It then added that “people should act responsibly showing wisdom and patriotism and allow people to profess their religion, customs and worship. Wisdom comes from understanding and harmony arises when we embrace that understanding with kindness and compassion. ‘Live and let live’ should be the hallmark of our character. True peace is found not in mere knowledge, but in the balance of the mind, heart and soul.’’
“We are informed that there has been no communal violence in Malegaon after 2008 and people of different religions have been living together, believing in harmonious co-existence and creating happiness for each other in the last more than 17 years,’’ the HC said.
Quashing the March 25 refusal and allowing the event to take place with undertakings from the organizers not to express vies that would hurt any other religious sentiments, the HC order said, “After 78 years of the freedom of India, we have every reason to believe that the population of this country is sufficiently educated and wise to understand the self imposed limitations on what to speak and what not to.’’ The undertaking will bind the speakers too equally directed the HC.
“ Wisdom should prevail and the Speakers would also ensure that as they express their thoughts, none of them would be directed against any other religion due to which the members of other religions,’’ the HC said in its conclusions and directed police to earmark a separate route which doesn’t pass through “congested locality’’ with proper bandobast to ensure law and order is maintained.