Overview
- The Pune Municipal Corporation ordered Sarasbaug shut on May 28 and May 29, citing police instructions and security concerns tied to heavy holiday footfall.
- PMC officials and the city garden department say the closure followed prohibitory and law‑and‑order directions issued by Pune police as a precaution during vacation days.
- Local activists and the Miss Farha Charitable Foundation have formally protested the timing, submitted letters demanding reasons be disclosed, and warned they may seek court review if the pattern continues.
- Opponents note the park is a customary Eid destination for many Muslim families and point to a similar one‑day closure last year after a BJP MP raised objections to Eid gatherings at Sarasbaug.
- The dispute raises questions about equal access to public spaces and will likely hinge on whether authorities publish the police rationale or adopt less restrictive measures such as increased on‑site policing.