BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide appealed to festival organisers, advertisers and citizens to cooperate with the civic body’s ‘Pedestrian First’ campaign and strictly follow the rules issued for displaying commercial advertisements during the Ganeshotsav and Navratri festival

The remarks came after the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) announced that Muslims would not be allowed to enter garba and dandiya venues across Maharashtra during Navratri, beginning October 11. BJP minister Nitesh Rane has supported the VHP's position