@RishikeshChava9
Mumbai: Taking the wind out of the temple reopening agitation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar on Monday stormed the Vitthal-Rukmini temple in Pandharpur and forced the Shiv Sena, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to announce that it would soon issue guidelines on reopening of places of worship of all religious faiths.
Bowing to the pressure exerted by the VBA leader, the Maharashtra government announced that it will soon issue guidelines for reopening Temples, Masjids, Buddhavihar, Gurudwara’s, Jain Temples and places of worship of other religions. The government assured the VBA leader that within the next 8 to 10 days these guidelines will be issued and all the places of worship will be reopened.
Earlier in the day VBA leader Prakash Ambedkar and his thousands of followers tried to march towards the Vitthal Mandir in the temple town of Pandharpur. The morcha was briefly stopped midway. Meanwhile his party cadres turned highly aggressive and all norms following social distancing rules despite the Corona crisis.
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Prakash Ambedkar was seated in his car which was surrounded by a huge mob of volunteers and heavy police protection. Addressing the morcha, Prakash Ambedkar openly declared “I am here to break the rules”.
Speaking to the News Channel Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut calmly remarked “If the opposition party remains patient during this time it will be a great debt to the people of Maharashtra”. He also said “Prakash Ambedkar is always known for respecting constitutional values. He trying to enter the Temple with a huge mob is not a good sign.”
Prakash Ambedkar lashed out saying “When the government does not correct its actions the constitution has given the right to the people to act”.
Later Prakash Ambedkar was given permission by the government to enter Vitthal Temple with 15 of his people. Prakash Ambedkar claimed the protest was successful and later gave a speech to his gathered followers. He also warned saying that he will once again stage a protest 10 days later if Temples are not reopened in Maharashtra by then.-By Rishikesh Chavan
