CM's bitting reply to Maharashtra Governor

In Maharashtra, the opening up of religious places in the state has become a political issue. BJP, Nav Nirnam Sena and other political parties are pressing hard for the opening of relgious places in the state. Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had written a letter to the CM, Udhdhav Thakre , which state “I wonder if you are receiving any divine premonition to keep postponing the reopening of the places of worship time and again or have you suddenly turned ‘secular ‘ yourselves, the term you hated?”

Responding to the letter, the CM said, “Do you mean that opening up religious places is Hindutva, and not opening them means being secular? Secularism is a crucial base of the oath you took as Governor. Do you not believe it?” Thackeray added that he does not need any preaching on Hindutva. “Sir, you mention Hindutva in your letter, but I do not need any certificate or any teaching on Hindutva from you. My Hindutva does not permit me to welcome home a person who called my Maharashtra or Mumbai Pakistan occupied Kashmir.” 

BJP in Maharashtra staged protests across the state on Tuesday demanding reopening of temples. The party alleged that the state govt could reopen restaurants and bars despite the contagion, but not temples. On Sunday, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had said that the government was cautious in reopening temples because of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. He had stated it was the responsibility of the state government to ensure the safety of the public unlike his political rivals.