Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has condemned the assault of Pune social activist Vidyanand Bapat, who had expressed a position on DJs and noise pollution during Ganeshotsav, saying that disagreement with someone’s views does not justify physical violence.
Speaking in Mumbai on Thursday, Fadnavis said every person has the right to express an opinion and that assaulting anyone in response was unacceptable. He said the attack could not be supported and added that strict action would be taken against those responsible.
The incident has emerged amid a wider public discussion over the use of DJs and noise levels during Ganeshotsav, one of Maharashtra’s major public festivals. The report did not provide details of the location of the assault, the identities of those involved or the status of any police investigation.
Fadnavis said that a dispute of this nature should not arise in a city such as Pune. He called for people to understand one another’s concerns and said steps should be taken to move Ganeshotsav towards a more traditional form of celebration.
The chief minister also acknowledged that such a change would not become completely successful in its first year. He said all stakeholders should work towards making the transition fully successful, without specifying a new enforcement mechanism, timeline or set of regulations in the statement reported by Loksatta.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also responded to the assault and linked the issue to the cultural significance of Ganeshotsav. He said the festival represented Maharashtra’s tradition and culture and should not be tarnished in any way.
Shinde said citizens should work to preserve that tradition and culture. He added that no one should behave in a manner that causes inconvenience or hardship to residents while celebrating Ganeshotsav, describing this as the government’s position.
The statements place two connected issues at the centre of the public response: the right to express views on festival practices and the responsibility to prevent disruption or inconvenience to city residents. The available report does not establish whether authorities have issued any separate directions on DJ use, noise limits or festival operations in Pune.
Fadnavis’s reported assurance of strict action against those responsible for the assault is the next official step identified in the statement. Further details on the police case, enforcement action and arrangements for managing noise and public inconvenience were not included in the source report.
