NCP legislator demands ban on Ravan Dahan

'Ravana is worshipped by some tribal communities in India,' said NCP legislator Amol Mitkari.

Mumbai: In what is snowballing into a political issue in Maharashtra, NCP legislator Amol Mitkari has demanded a ban on Ravan Dahan during Vijaya Dashami, while state BJP spiritual coordination committee head Acharya Tushar Bhosale has called for action against him.

Mitkari, an MLC, who is also the spokesperson of the NCP faction headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is an orator-par-excellence.

“The practice of Ravan Dahan must stop and the district Collectors must take note of this,” Mitkari said, adding that he is going to raise the issue in the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature in Nagpur.

“Ravana is worshipped by some tribal communities in India,” said Mitkari.

“Whenever someone wants to burn an effigy, they have to seek permission from the police. The supporters of the figure whose effigy we burn feel differently. In fact, Sharad Tandale's book states that Ravan was the king of rakshasas (demons). There are temples devoted to Ravana in many places,” he added.

Bhosale stated that if this matter is brought up during the winter session, both BJP and Shiv Sena MLAs will protest, and a comprehensive response will be provided.

In a social media post on X, Bhosale criticized Mitkari's statement, tagging Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis, and Ajit Pawar.