The BJP on Monday staged protests against the Uddhav Thackeray government in Nashik. The agitation took place outside the famous Trimbakeshwar Shiva temple and the Opposition demanded for the reopening of shrines in Maharashtra.
CM Thackeray on Sunday interacted with the people of the state through social media. He had affirmed that the Covid lockdown restrictions will likely be at ease. Opening of spiritual places and its resolution may also be taken soon. The BJP’s political agenda is to use the agitation for the reopening of temples to corner the Shiv Sena on the Hindutva issue.
The BJP alleges the Shiv Sena has diluted its commitment towards Hindutva for political expediency, to come to power in Maharashtra with “secular” parties like the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Influential fringe groups like Shivpratishthan Hindustan led by controversial Sambhaji Bhide have also hit the ground over the issue and sought the reopening of temples, which may add to the Sena’s difficulties.
Last year too, former Chief Minister and Opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis had said that the BJP wanted all places of worship to be reopened for reasons of faith and sustenance of livelihoods. “If the Maha Vikas Aghadi (Maharashtra’s ruling coalition) has opened up liquor shops, malls, gymnasiums, why not temples,” Fadnavis asked.
In October 2020, Governor B.S. Koshyari had written a scathing letter to Thackeray questioning the government’s decision to not open temples, and had asked him whether he had “turned secular” by abandoning Hindutva. This had prompted the chief minister to retort in a similar vein, stating that he did not need a certificate to validate his pro-Hindutva credentials. Reminding Koshyari that he had taken oath as the governor of the state on the Constitution, Thackeray said that secularism was the core principle of this Constitution.
“Bars and wine shops are open, but places of worship are closed. They can be opened at least once a week on particular days like Monday for Shiva temples,” said BJP spokesperson Atul Wagh. “The Shiv Sena is not a Hindutvawadi (pro-Hindutva) but an opportunist party… They strike compromises for power,” he said.
At the time when religious places remain closed for common people in Maharashtra in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, state Housing Minister and NCP leader Jitendra Awhad visited a temple of Lord Ganesha and performed aarti, which invited criticism from the BJP.
Awhad took darshan of the famous Navshya Ganpati temple located on the Gangapur Road and performed aarti, before leaving for Trimbakeshwar en route to Mumbai, sources said.
Notably, the Nashik administration on Saturday decided to ban assembly of people at tourist spots in view of the pandemic. Social, political and religious gatherings also remain banned to avoid crowding.