'Ashirvad' rallies being held despite third wave threat: Uddhav Thackeray

In a veiled swipe at BJP Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said Ashirvad rallies are being organised despite the threat of a third wave of the Covid19 pandemic which is putting the lives of people in dangerSpeaking virtually after inaugurating an oxygen plant set up by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in Thane the CM said these people do not seem to care if some people die due to such ralliesrdquoNewlyappointed Union ministers of BJP recently organised Jan Ashirwad rallies to take blessings of peopleAs Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MNS defied the ban and tried to hold Dahi Handi celebrations in Mumbai and Thane on Tuesday Thackeray said the MVA government was not against any festivals but only fighting against coronavirusldquoThere is the threat of a third wave of Covid19 but some people are still organising Ashirwad rallies They are not seeking blessings from the people but they are in fact putting the lives of the people in dangerrdquo said Thackeray who heads Shiv SenaHe said when Sena was formed it was announced that the party will do 80 per cent social work and 20 per cent politicsldquoBut today there are parties in the country that are 100 per cent into politics They do not want to do any work that will benefit the people but they are organising rallies and events that would put their lives in dangerrdquo he saidldquoThese people do not seem to care if some people die due to such ralliesrdquo said ThackerayThackeray also said that he was missing the excitement of Dahi Handi due to restrictions which do not allow public celebrations of the festivalDahi Handi festival or Gopalkala is celebrated a day after Janmashtami marking the birth of Lord ShrikrishnaldquoI must admit that I am missing the excitement of Dahi Handi and the celebrations for the last couple of years I had personally attended some such events in the pastrdquo Thackeray recalledMNS celebrated the traditional Dahi Handi festival in Thane and the neighbouring Palghar district even though the celebrations have been banned in the wake of the Covid19 pandemicAlso Read Mumbai MNS workers booked for violating Covid19 norms on JanmashtamiA case was registered against four activists of the Raj Thackerayled party and eight others for violating Covid19 norms by holding a ldquoDahi Handirdquo programme in the Worli area of central Mumbai on Tuesday and two workers were arrested police saidThe CM said the MVA government was not against any festival but fighting against Covid19It the pandemic is not a state sponsored programme Everyone has to follow the guidelines during social life that are common across the worldrdquo he saidThackeray said even the Union government has asked States to take precautions during festivalsldquoOne needs to replicate the kind of fight MLA Pratap Sarnaik is putting up against the Covid19 pandemic by erecting oxygen generation plant but unfortunately it is not happening Such maturity is not seen in some people By behaving immaturely these people are posing a risk to the lives of othersrdquo he saidMLA Pratap Sarnaik has organised a Health Utsav instead of the Dahi Handi festival this yearldquoThis is not a fight for Independence of the country Here lives of people are at stakerdquo the chief minister said apparently referring to public rallies and other events organised by BJP in MaharashtraThackeray said he wanted to show the Union governments letter to States asking people to avoid crowding during the festive season especially to those who want to organise agitations at public placesrdquoAgitations are being held in defiance of the Covid19 safety regulations If you want to do any agitation then do it against coronavirus he addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever