RANCHI: After the state government eased the “stringent” norms for
Chhath Puja and allowed bathing in public waterbodies,
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the senior partner in the ruling mahagathbandhan alliance, on Wednesday said
BJP instigated residents of the state and devotees against the government and the saffron party would be responsible for any spurt in
Covid cases and deaths in the coming days.
JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya on Wednesday said: “If Covid cases increase in Jharkhand after the Chhath festivities, cases of mass murder should be lodged against BJP leaders and lawmakers.”
The Jharkhand government had modified its November 15 Chhath guidelines on Tuesday midnight, allowing devotees to carry out rituals and offer their prayers on the banks of river, lakes, dams, ponds and reservoirs wearing masks and maintaining social distancing.
The modifications came after political parties, including JMM and Congress, mounted pressure on the government and BJP lawmakers hit the streets condemning the ban on organizing Chhath Puja near waterbodies. The four-day festivity began on Wednesday.
Bhattacharya added: “We are aware of the danger that lies ahead of us and this was the reason the guidelines were issued. Jharkhand is among the few states that have managed the pandemic efficiently and kept the deadly infection in check. If things worsen from here, BJP and its politics of religious fanaticism will be responsible for it.”
He said the party was saddened by the celebrations that erupted at BJP state president Deepak Prakash’s house late on Tuesday night and Ranchi MLA CP Singh’s comment, where he allegedly accused Soren of appeasing minorities by participating in Urs.
“Did not the Hindu community abstain from Ramnavami, Durga Puja and Kali Puja celebrations? Just because Durga Puja is primarily a festival of Bengalis, BJP did not make noise then. Did not the Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Adivasi communities give their celebrations a miss this year? BJP stoked religious fanaticism only because of their vote bank, which is unfortunate,” he claimed.
BJP’s leader of opposition-elect Babulal Marandi however took to Twitter to attack JMM. “If we question the Tughlaqi Farmaan on Chhath Puja, then it is politics. If question about the five lakh jobs promised, then it is politics. If we ask about failing law and order and the fragile health infrastructure, then it is politics. It will be good if we do not ask questions at all, isn’t it?”