Despite a ban on erecting human pyramids for Dahi Handi this year, many BJP leaders have threatened to violate the rules
A woman gets vaccinated at Swaminarayan Temple in Mahalaxmi. The temple had opened its doors for the Covid-19 inoculation drive in the city. Pic/Ashish Raje
The Opposition and the ruling government will face each other on Monday over the former’s demand for reopening places of worship and lifting the ban on the upcoming Dahi Handi mahotsav organised during Janmashtami.
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Turns out, BJP’s religious frontal organisation Adhyatmik Samanvay Aghadi’s appeal for gathering outside temples has received support from the party’s state unit. State BJP president Chandrakant Patil said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government had kept the places of worship shut for five months after the first lockdown. “While the situation has improved now, temples and other religious places are still shut, depriving dependents of their livelihood. The [Uddhav] Thackeray government hasn’t helped people, who depend on religious places, with wages and income. Most other states have reopened places of worship,” said Patil, adding that the party is staging a protest.
“Party leaders, public representatives, office-bearers and workers have been asked to participate actively, and cry a slogan ‘mandir hum khulwayenge, dharma ko nyay dilayenge [we will open temples and do justice to the dharma]’,” added Patil.
Though the party hasn’t officially asked party workers to celebrate Jamashtami by erecting human pyramids at public places, many BJP leaders, who have been organising the event in the past, have threatened to violate the ban. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has also announced that it will celebrate the festival. Leaders affiliated to the Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP, on the other hand, have cancelled all the big events.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant criticised the BJP for violating the Centre’s and Niti Aayog’s precautions over the possibility of Covid’s third wave, which may see nearly 60 lakh cases in Maharashtra.
Asking the police to take stringent action against violators, Sawant said, “Power-hungry BJP is playing politics around temples. Many police cases have been registered against the BJP for violating pandemic norms during yatras of their ministers. And yet, the party hasn’t learned a lesson. Now, they are insisting on reopening temples, and celebrating Dahi Handi and risking the lives of innocent people.”
CM's appeal and caution
On Saturday, the CMO said in a statement that Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has asked the state government to impose restrictions during Dahi Handi and Ganesh festivals, due to higher test positivity rate in a few districts. “ The state had issued similar instructions to the machinery and now the Centre has endorsed our precaution. We must be careful in avoiding super-spreader events. Don’t risk your and others’ lives,” the statement said.
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