Mumbai: A day after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray raised objections to restrictions on Hindu festivals, particularly Ganeshotsav and Janmashtami, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with a Sena delegation on Thursday and assured cooperation from the administration.
The delegation led by MLC Anil Parab asked Mr. Fadnavis to relax silence zone norms. “If all conditions are followed, 80% of Ganesh mandals will fall in silence zones. What are we supposed to do?”. He said if the government fails to do so, it could jeopardise festival celebrations. “We will go ahead at any cost. It is up to the government to solve the issue. The CM was positive at our meeting and we hope it will continue.”
Mr. Fadnavis also met with a second delegation led by BJP city unit chief Ashish Shelar on the same issue. The delegation requested the CM to issued a Government Resolution if necessary to expedite permissions to Ganesh and Dahi Handi mandals. “Authorities delay the permission process because of several court orders, and this has been going on for some time,” Mr. Shelar said.
Mr. Thackeray had said the Sena would adopt an aggressive stance if silence zone restrictions are applied to Hindu festivals.
