Sun Sep 15 11:15:19 UTC 2024: ## Lalbaugcha Raja Faces Discrimination Accusations: VIPs Given Preferential Treatment During Darshan

**Mumbai:** Two lawyers have filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police alleging discriminatory treatment of common citizens during darshan at the famed Lalbaugcha Raja pandal. The complaint stems from a viral video showing pandal staff pushing devotees immediately after they offered prayers, while a group of VIPs stood nearby, unbothered, and posed for photographs.

The lawyers, Ashish Rai and Pankajkumar Mishra, claim that the pandal management mistreats and insults common citizens, including children, women, senior citizens and the differently abled, while VIPs are given preferential treatment. They express concern that the pandal may eventually become a VIP-only space.

The complaint comes amidst the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, which have seen a large number of devotees flocking to the Lalbaugcha Raja pandal. On Saturday, prominent figures including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife, BJP National Chief JP Nadda, and Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Bhupendra Yadav offered prayers at the iconic idol.

The Lalbaugcha Raja, housed at the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, is a central attraction during Ganesh Chaturthi. This year’s idol, unveiled on September 5, is managed by the Kambli family, custodians of the revered image for over 80 years.

The Mumbai Police is yet to comment on the complaint. The incident raises concerns about accessibility and fairness at one of Mumbai’s most popular religious sites.

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