We will march ahead to see our god: Raj Thackeray warns MVA government

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has also joined the other opposition parties to press the demand for reopening temples in the state. Taking a dig at the state government, Thackeray said that the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has slipped into a standstill mode on a certain issue. 

“Malls have been opened, public gatherings up to 100 people have been allowed. When all services and businesses were closed except the essential ones; we supported the government in its decision to keep the religious places closed. Now, the process of normalisation has begun. Why are the temples in Maharashtra are still closed?” Thackeray asked. 

In the letter, Thackeray said that the government can formulate a set of protocols for the entry into temples like it has done for malls. The Hindus of Maharashtra have adhered to the rules and regulations set by the government and will continue to follow the protocol, he added. 

Urging the government to consider the livelihood of those who depend on temples, Thackeray said that a temple being a focal point for many small towns forms the basis of the economic inputs. 

“Many people have lost their jobs, businesses. The government should start easing out the restrictions. Public transport needs to be systematically opened and the pace of boosting the economy should be accelerated,” the letter read. 

Thackeray further warned the Uddhav Thackeray government saying that people will not care for the restrictions imposed and will open the temples forcibly if the government ignores their request. 

"If the government ignores the pleas of people, we will then have to put aside the restrictions laid and march ahead to see our god," it said. 

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) along with Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief, Republican Party of India (A) All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) have been demanding the religious places to reopen. 

On August 29, the BJP organised a statewide agitation demanding the reopening of temples. Meanwhile, on Monday, VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar protested outside the Vitthal temple in Pandharpur and was supported by Warkaris and their organisations. 

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