Synopsis
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray expressed doubts about the cleanliness of the Ganga river, questioning the health of participants at the recent Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj and declining to drink water brought from the event.Key Takeaways
- Raj Thackeray questions the cleanliness of the Ganga.
- Declined to drink Ganga water brought from the Kumbh Mela.
- Highlighted the difference between faith and superstition.
- BJP legislators defended the Kumbh Mela.
- Emphasized the ongoing efforts to clean the Ganga.
Pune, March 9 (NationPress) Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray expressed doubt about the cleanliness of the Ganga river, questioning the health of those who participated in the recent Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. He noted that some individuals returning from the event reported feeling unwell, and he refused to consume Ganga water brought by his party members.
“No river in our country is clean. We just overcame the Corona pandemic, with people wearing masks for two years, yet they chose to bathe there. There’s little serious examination of this issue, despite the large number of participants at the Kumbh Mela. We must differentiate between faith and superstition. We need to step back from superstition,” he stated during a party meeting commemorating the party's foundation day.
“Our member Bala Nandgaonkar visited the Kumbh and returned with some Ganga water in a small kamandalu. When he offered it to me, I declined to drink it,” he remarked.
“In the past, it was acceptable, but now I see on social media that people who were there... many were using that water for washing their armpits. Does faith hold any significance? No river in this nation is clean. We refer to the river as 'Mother'. In other countries, rivers are pristine, whereas ours are filled with pollution. I have been hearing since the time of Rajiv Gandhi that the Ganga will be cleaned. Even Raj Kapoor made a film about it. People believed the Ganga was clean. They claimed if the river was clean, they would bathe in it. However, the Ganga remains polluted,” he continued.
“I have inaugurated numerous swimming pools; initially blue, but over time, they turned green. All polluted water is discharged into our rivers. River cleanliness is a critical concern,” he added.
The BJP has sharply criticized Raj Thackeray's comments, emphasizing the need to respect the beliefs of Hinduism.
BJP legislator Ram Kadam stated: "I have taken a holy bath three times with my family at the Kumbh Mela. Many leaders, actors, industrialists, and saints participated in this event, with nearly 57 crore people attending. The water there was clean. Therefore, it is unjust for those who stayed at home to claim the Ganga water is unclean."
He further mentioned that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making efforts to clean the rivers.
“Previously, there were numerous factories and sewage outlets in the Ganga River, but this number has significantly decreased, and work is ongoing,” he added.
“Rivers should be cleaned. However, participating in a holy bath at the Sangam is a matter of faith. Therefore, before making allegations, everyone should respect the faith of Sanatan Hinduism,” he concluded.
Another BJP legislator Praveen Darekar also responded, asserting that Raj Thackeray's remarks insult the devoted worshippers.
"Raj Thackeray's comments are offensive to the faithful. Hindus venerate gods and goddesses, which is why we respect even stones. We should not demean others' faith. We agree on cleanliness, but since the time of Rajiv Gandhi, rivers have not been cleaned, yet the Congress is blamed for this,” he added.
Darekar emphasized that the government is working to combat river pollution, stating that "positive efforts should be acknowledged. The Kumbh Mela is a tradition spanning hundreds of thousands of years."
