Police removes controversial banner after tension grips Karnataka's Davangere during Ganesh Chaturthi

Davanagere,: Police have succeeded in removing the controversial banner set up at Mattikal in Davangere on Friday.

Tension gripped the area on Thursday night after heated arguments took place between Sangh Parivar activists and the police over the removal of an objectionable banner set up at the place where Lord Ganesha idol was installed.

Veer Savarkar youth association of Mattikal in the city installed Ganesha idol and set up flex banner with large-sized images of historical figures on a nearby road. Many of them include Savarkar. The flex banner with context of the war between Shivaji Maharaj and Afzal Khan had led to controversy.

Some people who saw this banner had objected to it and stated that it would harm communal harmony.

The police, who rushed to the spot at mid night instructed the Ganesh Utsav Committee to remove the objectionable banner.

The committee members, who rejected this instruction, said that this is a historical incident and cannot be removed.

A group of youth gathered at the spot and protested against the police by raising slogans. The police tried to convince many dignitaries including Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Satish Poojary. The protesters sought time till Friday afternoon. At last, the controversial flex banner had been removed.