BJP slams Sena for delay in temple re-opening, says it has forgotten 'Hindutva'

Mumbai: As India gears up to celebrate Navaratri, the BJP part has openly criticised the Thackeray-led Maharashtra government over a perceived 'delay' in the re-opening of religious places of worship. The BJP accused the Shiv Sena of having 'forgotten' Hindutva when opening bars and restaurants before temples.

"Thackeray government has forgotten its Hindutva. After 105 days, temples have been reopened. While there is happiness, there is some sadness as well that this government could not re-open the temples while they were re-opening bars and restaurants a while back. Had they re-opened the temples with some SOPs in place back then, devotees would not have suffered. Due to the struggle of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) temples have re-opened now," said BJP MLA Ram Kadam.

Religious places of worship were re-opened in Mumbai on Thursday as per the Maharashtra government's announcement made on September 24. The government had vowed to open temples on the first day of Navaratri which is October 7. CM Uddhav Balsaheb Thackeray visited temples on the re-opening day and said that all temples and religious festivals would be conducted under strict COVID protocols and sanitisation drives.