Opposition parties in Maharashtra unite to demand reopening of religious places

The opposition in Maharashtra has united against the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. They are demanding the state government to allow the reopening of all places of worship. The temples, mosques and other places of worship have been shut for the last five months due to the coronavirus lockdown. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), All India Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and Republican Party of India (A) have come forward to demand that religious places should be allowed to reopen. 

“Why religious places are not being allowed to reopen? The Maharashtra government has already allowed markets, shopping malls to operate,” the opposition parties said. 

Maharashtra BJP President Chandrakant Patil informed that there has been a repetitive demand from the individuals and religious organisations to reopen temples. The livelihood of many people in the vicinity of shrines and major temples is at stake, Patil added. 

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale has also written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari demanding that all places of worship including temples, mosques and Buddhist monasteries to reopen in the state. 

Prakash Ambedkar-led VBA has also backed those demanding all major temples to reopen in Maharashtra. Ambedkar himself has been demanding the Uddhav Thackeray government to remove the lockdown restrictions in the state. 

The Vishwa Varakari Samsthan has demanded the Maharashtra government to allow the reopening of temples and permission to perform bhajans. In a statement, VBA has also shown support to these demands and Ambedkar said that he will remain present during the Pandharpur agitation scheduled to be held on August 31 to show solidarity. 

AIMIM MP from Aurangabad Imtiyaz Jaleel said that he will open mosques on September 2 even if the move was against the ruled imposed by the state. He also urged the Hindus to open their temples.

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