Maharashtra
Places of worship to reopen in Maharashtra from Nov 16: CM Uddhav Thackeray
Mumbai/UNI: The places of worship, which are shut since March due to the COVID-19 crisis, will reopen from Nov 16, announced CM Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday while extending Diwali greetings to the citizens.
The SOPs to be followed while visiting the religious spots will be released soon, he added.
Speaking further, the CM said, "We can't forget that the demon Coronavirus is still amongst us. Even though this demon is slowly falling silent now, we cannot be complacent. Citizens need to follow discipline."
"Just like discipline and restraint were observed while celebrating Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri and Pandharpur wari (annual pilgrimage), followers of other faiths also celebrated festivals like Eid, Mount Mary festival by keeping the COVID-19 safety protocol in mind," he told.
He remarked, “Although places of religious worship had to be shut during the pandemic, god was taking care of all devotees in the form of doctors, nurses and other health staff.”
He continued, “The reopening of religious places is not a government order but the wish of the Almighty. Crowding will have to be avoided. Shoes will have to kept outside the premises and wearing masks is mandatory.”
"If we follow discipline, we will get God's blessings," he asserted.
Opposition BJP held several protests across the state, seeking reopening of temples. The saffron party even verbally attacked CM Uddhav for allowing bars and liquor shops to operate but keeping temples locked.
On the same issue, a letter war ensued between Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari and the CM as the former apparently taunted the latter by asking, “Has he(CM) suddenly turned secular, the term he hated the most.”
To which, CM Uddhav curtly replied that he doesn’t need a certificate for his Hindutva.
The controversy gathered more steam when the CPI (Marxist) demanded Koshyari’s removal from the gubernatorial role.
Even, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemned Koshyari, saying that the Governor should have been careful about his choice of words.
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