“Now, I ask where are those who instigated these gullible Govindas to break the law and break their own hands and legs” — Ashish Shelar, BJP Mumbai unit president
Mumbai : The ruling BJP on Friday took a dig at Shiv Sena and MNS over their stand on celebration of ‘Dahi Handi’ festival, in the wake of some ‘Govindas’ or revellers sustaining injuries. Education minister Vinod Tawde and BJP’s Mumbai unit president Ashish Shelar visited four injured Govindas at KEM Hospital here.
“Few Govindas, below the age of 18 years have also got severe injuries, who might attract penal action for flouting the Supreme Court norms. Now, I ask where are those who instigated these gullible Govindas to break the law and break their own hands and legs,” Shelar said in an apparent dig at parties like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Shiv Sena which had expressed unhappiness over the apex court’s order.
The Govindas reportedly received injuries after falling off from a height while forming human pyramids to break ‘Dahi Handi’ (curd-filled pitcher) to mark birthday of Lord Srikrishna on Thursday. In its order on August 17, the Supreme Court barred those below 18 years of age from participating in the human pyramids which are the main attraction of Janmashtmi festival in Maharashtra. It also capped the height of the pyramids at 20 feet.
BJP had said that it had full respect for the apex court order, whereas Sena and MNS criticised the ruling and had asked their supporters and Govindas to celebrate the festival “the way it should be”. The BJP leaders also met the relatives of the injured ‘Govindas’ and directed the hospital authorities to offer them the best possible treatment.
“As a sensible person and a
party, we think that this is high time that we make this game (forming human pyramids) safe,” Shelar said. Mumbai police have registered 21 cases for violation of the Supreme Court’s order against the organisers of Dahi Handi festival for flouting the SC order. PTI
