Ranchi:A day after the Jharkhand government issued an order not permitting Chhath Puja at water bodies, it retracted its order on Tuesday, allowing the celebrations at river banks and ponds while following all COVID-19 protocols.
Wishing people ahead of Chhath, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the festival can be celebrated in rivers and ponds while following all COVID-19 protocols like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. "My priority is the safety of the state. I advise everyone to adhere to the COVID-19 guidelines."
He appealed the people to celebrate the festival at home. "I have seen people celebrating Chhath with the same devotion and vigour indoors as outdoors. Also, people would be praying for their near and dear one's well-being. This can only be done by following the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the Centre itself," he said, quoting the Centre's slogan, "Jab tak dawai nahi, tab tak dhilai nagi (don't let your guard down till a medicine/vaccine is discovered)".
He added the Jharkhand government was merely following the Centre's guidelines. "The Government of India under the leadership of Prime minister Narendra Modi has asked time and again to follow social distancing. Keeping that in mind, my only priority is to save lives," he said, also giving examples of the Jharkhand Police force, deployed in Bihar during the recent elections, contracting the COVID.
"Personnel from Jharkhand Police were also deployed in Bihar during the elections. Nearly 50 per cent of the police personnel and CRPF jawans got COVID-19 positive," he said.
He also accused the BJP of doing politics in the name of faith.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday held a protest in Ranchi against the Jharkhand government's Monday's order, not permitting Chhath Puja at water bodies due to the ongoing COVID-19.