New Delhi: The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday made a veiled swipe at the BJP and said "Ashirvad" rallies are being organised despite the threat of a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic "which is putting the lives of people in danger".
This comes after newly appointed Union ministers of BJP recently organised "Jan Ashirwad" rallies to take blessings of people.
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CM Uddhav Thackeray made these comments while he was speaking virtually after inaugurating an oxygen plant in Thane. The CM also said that "these people do not seem to care if some people die due to such rallies".
He said that 'Ashirvad rallies' were organized despite a threat of the third wave, he said that they didn't care about receiving blessing but were putting people's lives in danger.
Thackeray also said that he was missing the excitement of Dahi Handi due to restrictions, which do not allow public celebrations of the festival.
Dahi Handi festival or 'Gopalkala' is celebrated a day after Janmashtami marking the birth of Lord Krishna.
"I must admit that I am missing the excitement of Dahi Handi and the celebrations for the last couple of years. I had personally attended some such events in the past," Thackeray recalled PTI quoted him as saying.
However, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) celebrated the traditional 'Dahi Handi' festival in Thane and neighbouring Palghar district, even though the celebrations have been banned in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thackrey also said when Shiv Sena was formed it was announced that the party will do 80 percent social work and 20 percent politics. But today there are parties in the country that are 100 percent into politics.
'They do not want to do any work that will benefit the people but they are organising rallies and events that would put their lives in danger', he said.
These people do not seem to care if some people die due to such rallies, said Thackeray.