BJP MLA Ram Kadam seeks permission to celebrate Ram Leela; writes to CM

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam on Friday wrote a letter to Maharastra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray seeking permission to celebrate Ram Leela in the state amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

In his letter, Kadam said that Ram Leela has been celebrated since ages in Maharashtra and it should be allowed followed by COVID-19 protocols and with due precautions. Kadam also demanded that the Maharashtra government should allow reopening of religious places and temples across the state for devotees. 

“There was a demand from Hindu religious organisations for the opening up of temples. We strongly feel that religious places need o open so that devotees can pray during these challenging times. Similarly, we urge the government to give permission to ensure Ram Leela is celebrated across the state,” Kadam wrote saying that he anticipates a positive response. 

The BJP has been demanding that the Maharashtra government should allow reopening of temples in the state. Recently, the state government allowed metro and monorail to operate but hasn’t taken any decision on reopening places of worship. 

Apart from other opposition parties demanding reopening of religious places, BJP has organised statewide protests against the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. 

The political tussle between Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Thackeray has also intensified after the former questioned the government’s decision to keep the temples closed and mocked the Chief Minister for turning ‘secular’. 

Later, Thackeray responded to Koshyari saying that after the health and welfare of the citizens was his government’s primary duty and opening temples would not be feasible amid the COVID-19 outbreak. He further said that he doesn’t need any lessons or certificate in Hindutva from the Governor.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that no one wants to keep the temples closed but the government intends to save people’s lives amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

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