Jharkhand: Opposition BJP playing with religious sentiments of people, says JMM

RANCHI: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Tuesday urged Chhath revelers to abide by the guidelines issued by the state government and hinted that the blanket ban on gatherings near waterbodies for the rituals during the festival could soon be eased. JMM is the main partner in the mahagathbandhan government in the state.
Around midnight on Sunday, the state department of home, jail and disaster management had banned Chhath rituals on the banks of rivers and by ponds, lakes, dams, reservoirs and other public waterbodies citing chances of mass transmission of Covid through the congregation and shared use of water space for the rituals.
The guidelines issued by the state caused an outburst of resentment on various platforms. Political parties in the opposition and in the ruling alliance called for its revision. BJP lawmakers descended on the streets of Ranchi on Monday and held protests Soren government, demanding its revision.
“Chief minister Hemant Soren is a sensitive person and his government understands the people’s needs and issues. The concerns of the people and their religious sentiments will be honoured. JMM assures the people that they can offer Puja on Chhath with reverence,” JMM general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said on Tuesday evening.
JMM also criticized BJP state president Deepak Prakash for accusing the government of working against Hindu sentiments. “BJP’s statements are politically motivated after their defeats in the bypolls (in Dumka and Bermo) this month. They are trying to vitiate the atmosphere of harmony that prevailed all through the months of pandemic. In these months, festivals such as Easter, Sarhul, Ramnavami, Durga Puja, Diwali and Kali Puja were celebrated without any trouble. Was our government anti-Hindu?” Bhattacharya asked.
Accusing the BJP of playing with religious sentiments of the people, he said: “The sentiments of the people will be taken into consideration. The chief minister will address the issue himself very soon.” JMM said while Covid cases in Jharkhand are on the decline, the recent spike in Delhi is in an indicator of how the situation can worsen if steps are not put in place during the festive season.