Nobody enjoys keeping temples closed: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut

Amid the political tension in Maharashtra over the demand to reopen temples, Shiv Sena chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that no one wants to keep the temples closed but the government intends to save people’s lives amid the coronavirus outbreak. 

While talking about Governor Koshyari’s political taunt to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Raut said that the President of India should ask the Governor whether he is secular or not. 

“The Governor has raised questions over the Chief Minister being secular. The President and Prime Minister Narendra Modi should ask the Governor whether he is secular or not. The temples have not even opened in Goa. You can also check how many temples have opened in Haridwar,” Raut said. 

No one enjoys while keeping temples closed and this is being done to save people’s lives amid the health crisis, the Shiv Sena MP said. 

“There is a need for a national policy to reopen temples. The Prime Minister should come forward and say that temples across the country should open from tonight. We will do it. We have always followed the Prime Minister’s advise during a crisis,” Raut said. 

On Monday, Koshyari wrote a letter to the Chief Minister questioning the government’s decision to keep the places of worship closed in Maharashtra. The Governor further questioned Thackeray’s commitment to Hindutva and mocked him for turning ‘secular’. 

Later, Thackeray replied saying that looking 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.

Even Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed displeasure over the language used by Koshyari. 

In its editorial published at ‘Saamana’, Shiv Sena asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah that Governor Koshyari should be recalled if they wish to save the “prestige” of Raj Bhavan. 

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