No Rules for VIPs? As Maha Cracks Down to Control Covid Surge, Politicians Flout Rules At Wedding
Even as Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned of a lockdown as the state saw a huge surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, questions were raised on whether VIPs had different rules.
Former BJP MP Dhananjay Mahadik’s son’s wedding was celebrated on Sunday without following restrictions for the pandemic with top politicians — from Sharad Pawar to Devendra Fadnavis — lining up for the VIP wedding.
Covid-19 norms were openly flouted. While Fadnavis was seen without a mask, politicians Arvind Sawant and Sanjay Raut were among other top leaders who attended the wedding.
While the state has imposed restrictions on weddings, Pune has a cap of 200 guests, the VIP wedding on Sunday saw around 700 guests.
This comes even as a BJP leader had targeted the government over a wedding in an NCP leader’s family.
Meanwhile, politicians have canceled their programmes on Monday in response to chief minister Thackeray’s appeal. Supriya Sule has pushed ahead her public engagements. Uday Samant, minister of higher education, has cancelled programmes as well.
Maharashtra saw a steep rise in Covid-19 cases, recording over 6,000 cases on Friday. It recorded 6,971 cases and 35 deaths on Sunday.
Thackeray, in a video message to the state, appealed to the people of the state to follow Covid norms. “If we dont follow the rules then we will have to impose a strict lockdown,” he said.
Staggered working hours, social distancing and wearing of masks were few of the measures, the government said must be followed strictly.
Thackery also said he was cancelling all programmes on his calendar.
A week-long lockdown was also imposed in Maharashtra’s Amaravati in light of high Covid cases in the state. The lockdown will end on March 1, 2021.
A partial lockdown was imposed in Akola, Murtizapur, Akot, Yavatmal, Buldhana and Washim. Night movement is restricted in Pune between 11 pm and 6 am. Schools and colleges will be shut till February 28.
