Maharashtra Govt To Beef Up Security, Fadnavis Issues Guidelines For Peaceful Holi And Namaz Celebrations
Holi and Ramadan are both significant religious events in Maharashtra and the state government has made preparations to maintain peace.
Holi and Ramadan are both significant religious events in Maharashtra, and the tradition of celebrating them with mutual respect and harmony has been long established. However, given the potential for disturbances in certain districts on Holi, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led government has made preparations to maintain peace. With the state's political landscape boiling up due to recent incidents like the murder of a village head in Beed, the Pune rape case, the resignation of Dhananjay Munde, and controversial statements from Nitesh Rane and Abu Azmi, the state government is keen to ensure that no unrest occurs during the upcoming festival.
Mumbai has been given special attention in terms of security and guidelines for Holi celebrations. Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s Home Department has issued guidelines specifically for Mumbai, focusing on areas with a large Muslim population, such as Mohammed Ali Road, Pydhoni, Bhaykhala, Nagpada, Mankhurd, Govandi, and Bandra-Kurla Complex. These areas, while predominantly Muslim, also have Hindu residents, and the police are taking extra precautions to avoid any clashes.
Guidelines for Holi Celebrations:
-Prohibition of obscene words, songs, gestures, or offensive posters in public spaces.
-Ban on posters that can harm someone’s reputation, decency, or morality.
-Ban on throwing coloured balloons or powder at pedestrians.
-No Coercion for Holi celebrations—no one can be forced to play Holi.
-Prohibition on Collecting Donations Forcefully under the guise of the festival.
-Strict action against misbehaviour towards women under the influence of alcohol.
-Strict action against drunk driving and disturbing pedestrians.
Police Deployment for Holi Security:
For security during Holi in Mumbai, around 11,000 police personnel will be deployed across the city. This will include seven Additional Commissioners of Police, 19 DCPs, 51 ACPs, along with 1,767 police officers and 9,145 police staff. In addition to this, specialised units like SRPF platoons, RCP platoons, Quick Response Teams, Bomb Disposal Squads, and Home Guards will be stationed in sensitive areas.
Sensitive Areas in Maharashtra:
While Holi and Namaz have traditionally been celebrated together in Maharashtra with harmony and brotherhood, certain areas are considered sensitive. These include districts like Malegaon, Sambhajinagar, Thane, Bhivandi, and Nashik. To ensure peace, the police have deployed additional teams in these areas, keeping a close eye on the situation through CCTV surveillance. Meetings with local committees have been held, and all SPs and IGs have been alerted by the Guardian Ministers to ensure security.
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