Uddhav Thackeray targets BJP over 'unwarranted' restrictions on Hindu festivals; says if meeting does not yield a result, the party would celebrate the fests by defying rules
Uddhav Thackeray spoke about regulations during Ganesh Utsav, Dahi Handi, Diwali, and Navratri. File pic for representation
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Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has now trained his guns on the BJP over 'unwarranted' restrictions imposed on Hindu festivals such as Ganesh Utsav, Dahi Handi, Diwali, and Navratri.
Thackeray said a meeting to deliberate on festival-related regulations and issues would be held with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday.
"Like every year, some issues related to the Ganesh festival have come up for debate. Laws are imposed on us. High alerts are issued, threats by terrorists are discussed, and then we are left with no option but to celebrate our prime festivals with fear," Thackeray said while inaugurating party's office in Nariman Point.
'Laws came much later'
Thackeray demanded a permanent solution to the problems raised by the Ganesh Mandals. "The Sena supports the mandals. One should understand that the laws (for regulating celebrations) came into existence much later," he said.
The Sena chief said that the Ganesh festival has been an integral part of our culture for over a century. "But when the festival is celebrated, we come across temples, residential buildings, and hospitals which force us to impose regulations. In fact, the laws are legislated after these facilities come up near the venue where the festival is being celebrated for years. I want the government to formulate a law which will not allow any such facility to come up near a festival venue," he said.
Will defy regulations
He said if the Sena's meeting with the CM does not yield a result, then the party would continue to celebrate festivals by defying regulations. "Are people who celebrate festivals terrorists? If you can hold discussions with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, why can't you talk to Ganesh Mandals? You may tell them what is right and wrong. I don't think mandals would create trouble for their own people," he said.
The Sena and the BJP have been sparring over festivals for the past two years. Both parties take up issues raised by their respective supporters. But the BJP, led by its city unit president Ashish Shelar, has largely taken the credit for solving issues, albeit marginally, in the past two seasons. This year, the Sena has taken a lead in appropriating the Hindu vote bank.
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