As the temples and other places of worship reopened in Maharashtra on Monday after a gap of seven months on Monday, the ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) slammed the Opposition BJP for its efforts to claim credit for the development, by saying that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had ordered the closure of temples during the lockdown.
As the BJP celebrated the reopening of temples as “Anandotsav” in different parts of the state and dubbed the development as a victory of devotees’, Maharashtra NCP president and senior minister Jayant Patil slammed the principal Opposition party, by saying: “The BJP tries to politicise each and everything. The BJP can in no way hog credit for reopening of temples. If anything, the credit for the development goes to the chief minister and Maharashtra government”.
Talking to media persons at Ahmednagar in western Maharashtra, Patil said: “The BJP should realise that it was Prime Minister Modi who had ordered the closure of temples... It should also realise that the Coronavirus crisis has not abated fully in the country. Even in Maharashtra, we have been working hard to reduce the Covid-19 cases. Hence we are unlocking various activities slowly. We started movement of trains and we have started several other things. As the final part of the unlocking process, we have decided to reopen places of worship. But, the BJP politicises everything”.
“A few months ago, the BJP workers – unmindful of the continued Coronavirus crisis -- went in front of temples and staged a protest by banging thalis. Had they given us suggestions on how to reduce the Coronavirus, I would have understood. But, their effort was to see that they could contribute to the increase in the number of infections. When the BJP was in the Opposition, we quietly heard what Narendra Modi had to say then in this kind of situation. Our stand was then and now is that we do not want to indulge in politics on this kind of an issue. The Coronavirus crisis has affected the entire world. Here, the BJP indulges in politics on this issue,” Patil said.
Earlier, in a statement issued here, State BJP president Chandrakant Patil said: “The MVA government’s decision to reopen temples and other places of worship is a victory of the devotees’ faith”.
Debunking chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s statement that the reopening of religious places was not a government order, but was being done as the wish of the Almighty, Chandrakantdada – as he is known in the state political circles – said: “Despite having started the lockdown unlocking process some months ago, the state government had not permitted the reopening of temples and other places of worship. So much so that we had to take the lead and organise protests demanding reopening of places of worship. Despite the devotees having shown readiness to follow all health protocols strictly, the state government was refusing to reopen temples and other places of worship”.
“Finally, it was devotees’ faith that defeated the state government to keep them away from God and prompted them to reopen temples. We welcome the decision,” Chandrakantdada said, as he appealed to the devotees to follow Covid-19 protocols while visiting temples in future.
While making an announcement about the reopening of places of worship with a note of caution, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had said on Saturday: “We should not forget that the demon Coronavirus is still in our midst. Even though that there has been some respite, we can ill-afford to be complacent. Citizens need to follow discipline when the places of worship reopen”.
Uddhav had said that though all places of religious worship remained during the pandemic months, God was taking care of all devotees in the form of doctors, nurses and other health staff.
The chief minister said that the people from religious faiths celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri and Pandharpur wari (annual pilgrimage), Eid, Mount Mary etc by observing discipline, restraint and following Covid-19 protocol norms enforced by the state government.
“People will have to avoid crowding at the places of worship. The reopening of religious places is not a government order, but is being done as the wish of the Almighty. The devotees will have to leave their shoes outside, while the wearing of masks is mandatory.... If we follow discipline, we will get God's blessings,” the chief minister said.