'Only 20 People Can Attend Funeral, But 1000 Can Gather Near Alcohol Shops': Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut Hits At Centre

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut took to Twitter to take a humourous jibe at the central government. His tweet is perhaps in reference to a statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs where Joint Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava had said that only 20 people are allowed to be present at a funeral.

Image: PTI

Mumbai: After the central government eased restrictions on the sale of alcohol and several state governments opened up liquor stores, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut took to Twitter to take a humourous dig at the central government. "Only 20 people allowed to gather for a funeral - because the spirit has already left the body. 1000's allowed to gather near an alcohol shop, because the shops have spirits in them," Raut tweeted.

Only 20 people allowed to gather for a funeral - because the spirit has already left the body.

1000's allowed to gather near an alcohol shop, because the shops have spirits in them. — Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) May 8, 2020

On May 5, Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had said that "To maintain social distancing, gathering of not more than 50 persons are allowed at wedding functions and not more than 20 persons at last rites of deceased persons." The tweet is perhaps in reference to that statement. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government had also allowed the sale of liquor in the state after the ban on it was lifted by the centre. Excise Minister Dilip Walse Patil had revealed that the Maharashtra government collected more than Rs 100 crore in taxes in three days after liquor shops in the state were allowed to reopen. Watch: Sambhal: The truth behind a home guard testing Covid-19 positive | Sacchai Ka Sensex