Pune activist Vidyanand Bapat, known for his strong stance against high-decibel DJ systems and loudspeakers during festivals, was publicly assaulted.
Key Points
- Pune activist Vidyanand Bapat was publicly assaulted for his vocal opposition to high-decibel DJ systems and loudspeakers during festivals.
- The alleged attacker, Santosh Chavan, was detained by police following the incident, which occurred while Bapat was speaking to media.
- Bapat's campaign against loud music, particularly ahead of the Ganesh festival, has gained significant public support and is evolving into an organised civic movement.
- His previous objections at a Pune Municipal Corporation meeting led to a confrontation with Ganesh mandal representatives and went viral.
Vidyanand Bapat, a Pune-based activist who has been vocally opposing the use of high-decibel DJ systems and loudspeakers during festivals ahead of the coming Ganeshotsav, was assaulted by a man here on Thursday morning.
As the incident caused outrage, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the attacker had been arrested, and it was wrong to assault any person for voicing their views.
Bapat was slapped by a man when he was speaking to electronic media on Tilak Road around 11 am. The assault was captured on camera.
The Assault and Police Action
The police reached the spot after the attack and escorted the activist away in a police van. The alleged attacker was identified as Santosh Chavan, who is a member of a Ganesh mandal in Kothrud.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, CM Fadnavis, who heads the home department, said the police had arrested the attacker.
Attacking anyone for putting forth their views was not right, Fadnavis said.
Ganesh festival should be celebrated in a traditional way, Fadnavis said, adding it may not happen "100 per cent" but efforts must be made in that direction.
"This type of use of force against anyone is inappropriate. Everyone has a right to express their opinion. It is inappropriate to attack someone while expressing their opinion. Police have arrested the assailant," Fadnavis told reporters."
Bapat's Campaign Against Noise Pollution
He said he personally felt it was inappropriate for such a controversy in places like Pune.
Vishrambaug police registered an offence against Chavan under relevant sections of 353 (2) (dissemination of false information), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 296 (public annoyance), 115 (2) (physical hurt) and 351 ( criminal intimidation).
As per the FIR, while Bapat was talking to a Marathi channel, Chavan hurled abuses, called him "anti-Ganapati' and atheist" and threatened to kill him.
Vidyanand Bapat shot into the limelight last month when he opposed DJ systems and loudspeakers at a meeting organised by the Pune Municipal Corporation ahead of the 10-day Ganesh festival, which starts on September 14.
As he sought a complete ban on amplified DJ music and high-volume speakers during the meeting, representatives of Ganesh mandals became aggressive, leading to police escorting him out of the building amid heckling.
The video of the incident, and Bapat's subsequent videos where he articulated his views in chaste Marathi while explaining the logical fallacies in the arguments of the opposite side, became a social media sensation and generated numerous memes.
Viral Confrontation at PMC Meeting
His stand against noise pollution during festivals on the ground of public health has found growing support across Maharashtra which appears to be turning into a civic movement.
Commenting on the incident, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said violence and "mob rule" had no place in Maharashtra.
Sapkal, in a post on Facebook, questioned the religious identity of Bapat while condemning the alleged attack. "What is Vidyanand Bapat's religion?" Sapkal said in the post.
Sapkal said Bapat had raised his voice through democratic means against the deafening sound of DJs and alleged the attack was a blot on Maharashtra's culture and law and order.
"There can be differences of opinion, but the answer to it is not violence," he said.
If mob rule is being used to take away the right to express one's opinion, the question arises if this is Maharashtra or Taliban, Sapkal added while seeking immediate registration of cases against those who attacked Bapat.
"There should be no place for terror and mob rule in a state governed by law. In Maharashtra, the Constitution and law will prevail, not mob rule," he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Ganesh festival was part of Maharashtra's tradition and culture and there should be no blot on its celebration.
"We should try to conserve our festival and its traditions. The government's stand is that nobody should take any step that will cause inconvenience to citizens," Shinde told reporters.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said the issues raised by Bapat were not related to any particular religion.
"The discussion on DJs is going on, ranging from a complete ban to using them with moderation. There are some people who are actively opposing the use of DJs," Thackeray said.
NCP-SP state president Shashikant Shinde questioned whether democracy still existed in Maharashtra, citing police action on a person who objected to a number plate on the vehicle of a public representative.
The leader of the House in the Pune Municipal Corporation, Ganesh Bidkar, said CM Fadnavis had taken serious cognisance of the incident involving Bapat.
Bidkar, a BJP leader, said his party and Pune police will ensure Bapat's safety.
Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar said statements were being recorded, adding that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the incident.
