Uddhav Thackeray: Bakrid should be celebrated in a "low-key & symbolic manner"

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday expressed that he was not in favour of allowing large-scale Eid-ul-Adha celebrations and appealed people to celebrate the festival, likely to be observed on August 1, in a symbolic manner.

An online meeting was held with a delegation of Muslim MLAs across party lines with Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to come up on a plan on how Eid could be celebrated, and how qurbani, the ritual sacrifice of goats, could be conducted amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

“While Covid-19 cases are spreading daily, we are making all attempts to prevent the same. In the last four months, festivals of all religions were celebrated in a low-key manner. Similarly, Bakrid should also be celebrated in a low-key manner, symbolic if possible, by following all measures,” Thackeray said.

“We have to ensure that there is no crowding. There should not be an insistence to purchase goats and sheep at mandis. Transportation may lead to an increase in the number of cases. We should fight the challenge this year,” Thackeray added.

State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh also stated that he was not in favour of allowing festivities. “Considering the stress on the police to enforce the lockdown, Bakrid should be celebrated in a simple manner,” he said.

The guidelines for Bakrid festivities are likely to be issued soon.