Don't play with lives of people, Maha CM's appeal to political parties

The political scene in Maharashtra these days appears to be hanging primarily on ED and Covid 19 which is accentuated by the BJP’s demand for opening of Temples as the Ganesh Chaturthi draws near.

Thackeray urges political parties not to play with lives of people

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday urged the political parties not to demand reopening of places where crowds can not be avoided. Addressing a virtual medical conference he said,” Don’t play with the lives of people. Hold agitations but against Covid-19. It is up to us to prevent a third wave or invite it.” He said he has given instructions to increase oxygen production in the state to 3,000 metric tonne from the present 1,000 metric tonne. Maharashtra health secretary Pradeep Vyas who was also present at the conference, said that five districts account for 72% of the active cases are Pune,Thane, Satara, Ahmednagar and Mumbai. The districts where the positivity rate is going up since August 29 are- Pune, Ahmednagar, Satara , Solapur, Sangli,Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. The heath secretary also said these districts will need to be specially cautious in view of the ten-day Ganesh festival.

BJP holds agitation for temple reopening

Earlier in the week on Monday, 30 th August, BJP in Maharashtra held protests alleging that Maha Vikas Aghadi government gave more importance to liquor bars than temples. Symobolically blowing conches in their Shankhnaad agitation,hundreds of BJP workers and state leaders participated in major temple areas of Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Solapur districts.In Mumbai, the BJP MLA from Ghatkopar, Ram Kadam said we are not advocating crowding in front of temples, but the government can certainly devise a system based on the issue of online passes for lakhs of devotees. Earlier, a police shield had been stationed out side Siddhi Vinayak temple to prevent Ram Kadam from holding a protest there.

Sharad Pawar alleges BJP-led government using ED to subdue opposition

National Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar said on Saturday that Centre is using Enforcement Directorate to “subdue” opposition parties across the country. Speaking to reporters in Pune, he said that this is not only happening in Maharashtra but also in Punjab, Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh and also in some southern states too. He said that the Union Government is also ignoring the farmers who have been protesting against the new farm laws for over a year.On the BJP’s demand for opening the temples in Maharashtra to the public, he said the Centre itself has given instructions to the government about taking extra precaution in view of the Covid- 19 situation.He also cleared the air about Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana chief Raju Shetti’s name being recommended for appointment as a Member of Legislative Council from the governor’s quota. He said ,” We have kept our word. We have proposed that Shetti’s name be included in the list…We are waiting for the governor’s decision.”