Maharashtra Governor Demands Reopening of Temples
An acrimonious exchange has erupted between Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari over the reopening of places of worship, shut since the coronavirus lockdown
Religious places like temples have been shut in Maharashtra since the start of lockdown in March. On 12th October Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has sent a strong sarcastic letter to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray. In the letter, the Governor said, "You have been a strong supporter of Hindutva. You had publicly shown your devotion to Lord Rama by visiting Ayodhya after taking charge as Chief Minister. You had visited the Vitthal Rukmini Mandir in Pandharpur and performed the puja as well."I wonder if you are receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of places of worship time and again. Or have you turned 'secular' - means have you suddenly become a person who believes that religion should not influence governance - Because you hated being called secular before.” He also reminded the Chief Minister that other cities had reopened such places in June and there had been no reports of a surge in Covid-19 cases. The Governor also called it "ironical" that bars, restaurants, and beaches were allowed to open, and "our Gods and Goddesses have been condemned to stay in the lockdown".
Uddhav gave a strong reply to the Governor in Marathi and said his Hindutva did not require a certificate and the decision to keep temples closed has been made after careful consideration. "You said I am getting divine premonitions? Maybe you get them but I am not so big," he wrote back in Marathi. Mr. Thackeray reminded the Governor that the reopening of temples or delaying does not mean he is being secular. Uddhav asked Mr. Koshyari if he had forgotten his own constitutional oath. Because in his oath he had promised to be secular and not support any religion while performing his duties. Is he rejecting his oath?’ Referring to actor Kangana Ranaut without naming her, Mr Thackeray added that "inviting people who call Mumbai PoK with smiles does not fall into my definition of Hindutva".
Even Actor Kangana Ranaut attacked Uddhav on twitter by saying that Maharashtra Government is behaving like Gundas and are very smart to keep bars open but keeping temples shut. Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has reacted strongly to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's letter. He wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was "shocked and surprised" at the language used by the Governor. After the governor sent his letter, BJP organised many protests to reopen temples in Maharashtra. Many leaders like Raj Thackeray, Assauddin Owaisi and Prakash Ambedkar, are also in favour of reopening places of worship. The Maharashtra government says crowd control at religious places is a major concern. Sources in the government say conditional reopening is being considered for the next set of relaxations expected in early November.
