Over 50 Ganesh idols lie in garbage at Khilchipur municipal water box premises

More than 50 Ganesh idols are lying amid garbage at the municipality's water box premises in Khilchipur, Rajgarh district. Many of the idols have broken.

According to councillor Rakesh Jaiswal, the idols have been kept there for over two years. He said that at the time of Amit Shah's rally, the municipality had the idols lifted from around the Mela Ground and the Dera and placed at the water box premises. They have been lying there since.

Jaiswal questioned the municipality's functioning. He said no arrangement was made for immersing the idols, nor for keeping them safe. The Ganesh immersion period has passed, yet nothing was done. He alleged that the chief municipal officer (CMO) has not paid attention to the matter so far, and that the officials concerned have not looked after the idols for all this time.

The councillor said the BJP government talks of religion and faith, but idols of Lord Ganesh lie in a heap of garbage. He demanded that the municipality remove the idols from the garbage and have them immersed with respect.

Responding, Dev Narayan Dangi, CMO of the municipal council, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah had come to address a meeting during the Assembly elections. The Ganesh idols were removed from the site then for security reasons. He said the idols belonged to a sculptor, who did not come to collect them later. The idols were then placed at the water box premises.

Dangi said that if the idols are lying amid garbage, they will be dismantled. He also said he would visit the spot and inspect the idols today while coming for a programme at 3 pm.