Pune: Similar to government permitting airlines, state transport buses and liquor shops to operate while following social distancing norms, the salon shop owners have again demanded permission to operate and will be filing a petition in the Bombay High Court. 

Somnath Kashid, President of the Salon Parlour Association addressed mediapersons on this issue. He said, "The government has given permission to various businesses on the condition of following social distancing and other rules. Liquor and other shops are operating in the state but only salon shops are being discriminated against by the government."

"The Nabhik community is following up with the state government over this issue since the last two months. We have demanded a financial aid package too, but the government has turned a deaf ear. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has refused to give us time for a meeting. There are 10 lakh salon shop operators and their families are dependent on their sole income. The state government is responsible for the financial problems faced by these 40 lakh people," he said.

"Till now, five suicide incidents have taken place due to the economical stress because of business loss during the lockdown period. If the state government does not permit us to open shops, we will have to face a financial crisis soon. Hence, all salon owners and professionals in the state had a meeting on this issue and we have decided to file a petition in the Bombay High Court in this matter," Kashid stated.