Hyderabad: Firebrand BJP MP Yogi Adityanath will address a gathering during the 'Hindu Chetana Sabha', slated to be held in Hyderabad on September 13 ahead of Vinayaka Chaturthi (Ganeshotsav).
"Yogi Adityanath will be chief guest for the event which is being organised at NTR stadium and it will also be addressed by several other saints," Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) International President G Raghava Reddy said on Wednesday.
Around 40,000 people are expected to take part in the programme, Reddy said adding Hyderabad police has granted permission to Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi, under whose aegis the event is being organised.
The 42-year-old MP from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, who was scheduled to visit to the city on Ram Navami in March this year and address a gathering during 'Vishal Shobha Yatra' then, did not make it to Hyderabad, reportedly over denial of permission by police.
Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi, general secretary, Bhagwant Rao said Vinayaka Chaturthi will be celebrated from September 17 with installation idols of Lord Ganesha and the immersion will take place on September 27 at Hussain Sagar lake and other water bodies here.
Around 1 lakh Ganesh pandals would be set up in and around Hyderabad this year, he said.
The organisers of pandals will intimate on installation of an idol and police should stop "harassing" them in the name of seeking police permissions for installing idols, Rao said.
In view of Liberation Day celebrations on September 17, tricolour will be hoisted at all the pandals, he said.
Rejecting the contention of idols polluting Hussain Sagar lake, he said the High Court had earlier directed authorities concerned to immediately remove idols after immersion.
Rao further demanded that the state Endowment Department should take up cultural activities at pandals from the budget issued for Ganeshotsav.
