Indian billionaire exposes VIP culture at Lalbaugcha Raja with video of ‘unequal treatment’

PTC News Desk: The Wikipedia entry for Lalbaugcha Raja describes it as a “sarvajanik” or “public” Ganesh idol in Mumbai, attracting around 1.5 million devotees each day during the 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival. While the festival is indeed open to the public, recent footage has spotlighted troubling issues of VIP culture within the mandal.

One particular video, which has garnered significant attention, shows a long line of devotees being forcefully pushed and manhandled by security personnel at the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal.

Ever wondered why people opt for VIP darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja? It’s because the common devotee often faces long waits and crowds, highlighting the unequal treatment. Isn’t faith supposed to be equal for all? pic.twitter.com/kCAhpcDq25

— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) September 12, 2024

This footage contrasts sharply with the treatment afforded to a VIP family, who were seen taking their time to pose for photographs in front of the iconic idol. Ordinary devotees, who often wait up to 12 hours for a brief moment of darshan, were abruptly hurried along by the security staff.

In a stark display of the disparity, another viral video captured a chaotic scene as devotees surged into the pandal when the gates were briefly opened, highlighting the difficulties faced by common devotees.

Unequal Treatment

Billionaire Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Group, took to social media platform X to share a video of the scene, aiming to draw attention to the evident discrimination within the pandal. Goenka pointed out the glaring contrast between the experiences of common devotees, who endure lengthy waits and crowded conditions, and the preferential treatment of VIPs.

“Ever wondered why people opt for VIP darshan at Lalbaugcha Raja? It’s because the common devotee often faces long waits and crowds, highlighting the unequal treatment. Isn’t faith supposed to be equal for all?” Goenka queried in his social media post.

In response to Goenka’s comments, X user Dinesh Joshi expressed frustration over the disparity, noting, “Unfortunately, I haven’t taken darshan of Lalbaugcha Raja. I feel sorry for those devotees being pushed who stand in the queue for hours and get a glimpse for a second, whereas VIPs who break the queue get to stand there and take a selfie.”

Another commenter suggested, “It should be declared ‘VIP Only’ pandal. Common people travel long distances and struggle a lot with their devotion, only to get this treatment and darshan for mere seconds.”

The revelation has sparked a broader conversation about the treatment of ordinary devotees versus VIPs at religious events, questioning the fairness of access and respect for all who partake in the festival.

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