Tensions rise at Tank Bund over Ganesh immersion restrictions

HYDERABAD: Tensions erupted at Tank Bund during Ganesh immersion when Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi leaders removed police flexes and barricades on Sunday.

The leaders protested against the government's restriction on immersions at Tank Bund, stating that the practice had been ongoing for years. They accused the government of hurting devotees' sentiments by introducing new rules. The leaders recalled similar restrictions in 2022 and 2023, but noted that the immersions eventually took place at Tank Bund. They demanded the government to immediately make arrangements for the immersion, warning of city-wide protests on Monday if their demands were not met.

Samith's secretary Rajavardhan Reddy stated, "If the government fails to arrange for immersions at Tank Bund, we will inform all mandap organisers and launch city-wide protests tomorrow, bringing Hyderabad to a standstill."