Thackeray, Koshyari exchange letters on meaning of secularism

Maharashtra Chief Minister and Governor have exchanged letters reflecting the meaning of secularism. The state has been witnessing anti-government agitations by the BJP on the re-opening of all places of religious worship for devotees.

Mumbai:Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has informed Governor BS Koshyari that a decision on reopening places of religious worship will be taken after careful consideration of the COVID-19 situation in the state.

Responding to a letter by Koshyari a day earlier, Thackeray on Tuesday wrote to the Governor, saying that the state government will consider his request to reopen these places.

In his letter, Koshyari had mentioned that he has received three representations from delegations demanding that places of religious worship be reopened.

Read:|BJP leaders detained for attempting to enter Siddhivinayak temple

In response, Thackeray pointed out that it was a coincidence that all the three letters Koshyari mentioned were from BJP office-bearers and supporters.

An RSS veteran, Koshyari has been BJP's vice president and first president of that party's unit in Uttarakhand, where he also served as Chief Minister.

In the letter to the Chief Minister, Koshyari had asked, "Have you suddenly turned secular?"

Responding to this question, Thackeray wondered if to Koshyari Hindutva meant merely reopening places of religious worship and if not opening them was to him being secular.

"Isn't secularism a key component of the Constitution, by which you swore while taking oath as the state governor," Thackeray said.

"While considering the sentiments and beliefs of the people, it is also important to take care of their lives and it is wrong to impose and lift lockdown suddenly," he said in the letter.

PTI report

Read:|Jharkhand re-opens places of worship with restrictions