Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Mar 12 (IANS): Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray fumed as Aurangabad Police on Thursday clamped prohibitory orders and banned his proposed rally to commemorate Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's 390th birth anniversary, in the wake of coronavirus scare.
Undeterred by police restrictions, the MNS is firm on holding its Shivaji Jayanti rally as Thackeray reached the city this morning.
The crucial Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) elections will be held by April.
"What's the real problem? We don't have so many coronavirus cases in Maharashtra yet. Tuberculosis kills more people in India every year, but not a single death so far due to coronavirus," an agitated Thackeray told mediapersons here.
He admitted that precautions must be taken against coronavirus but questioned why different decisions were made for different districts which, he claimed, created needless panic among the people.
"Is the government trying to postpone the AMC elections? Then take a decision accordingly without creating panic among the masses" he demanded.
The MNS chief will garland a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Kranti Chowk in the city, while party leaders will follow suit at other locations here.
The ruling Shiv Sena has cancelled its planned processions in the city to mark the occasion and will instead organise small functions at multiple locations, said city party leader Chandrakant Khaire.
Recently, in a deft political move ahead of the AMC elections, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray approved a proposal to rename the Aurangabad Airport after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, blunting the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's demand to rename the city (Aurangabad) after the great Maratha leader.
Several other functions by various political parties and social organisations slated for Thursday have also been cancelled or truncated amidst the coronavirus scare in Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, and other parts of the state.
The official birth anniversary celebrations of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - who founded the Maratha Empire - was held on February 19 whereas the March 12 celebrations are as per 'tithi' or Hindu calendar.