Seers' call for city bandh, black day gets no response

VARANASI: The call of seers to observe black day and Banaras bandh in protest against cane charge during Ganesh idol immersion row on September 22, 2015 evoked no response in the city on Thursday.
In view of their call the district administration and police had ensured tight security arrangements, especially outside the Vidya math at Kedar Ghat, Satua Baba Ashram at Manikarnika Ghat and also Patalpuri math in Narharipura areas to foil the bid of seers to come out of their maths and ashrams with their supporters.Besides, barriers had also been installed on various points in Godowlia and Bansphatak areas as a precaution while officials were also deployed at Godowlia Crossing.
The seers including Swami Avimukteshwaranand of Vidya math, Balakdas of Patalpuri math and Santosh Das of Satua Baba Ashram had held a press conference last week when they gave the call for observing black day and Banaras Bandh. On September 22 night last year police had used force to disperse the gathering of seers and organisers of Ganesh puja when they had become rigid to immerse their idol in the Ganga violating the High Courts order banning idol immersion in rivers including teh Ganga. It was followed by a violent protest on October 5, 2015 when curfew was also imposed in some areas for two hours. Later, Congress MLA Ajay Rai and some other persons were arrested and NSA was also invoked on them. Despite these protests the district administration had succeeded in ensuring compliance of HC's order during Durga Puja and other celebrations.
District magistrate Vijay Kiran Anand and SSP Akash Kulhary also visited the maths and ashrams of these seers, where the latter gave their memorandums. In his memorandum Balakdas demanded withdrawal of cases lodged against innocent persons, to ensure that government officials are not hurdling the festivities and traditional celebrations, ensure hearing of the case on immersion of idols in rivers in fast track court.