Migrants responsible for spread of coronavirus in Maharashtra: MNS chief Raj Thackeray

He said the states the migrant labourers hailed from lacked adequate facilities to test them for coronavirus

Amid the rapidly rising Covid-19 cases, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Tuesday blamed migrants coming from other states for the recent surge in cases across the state.

“A large number of people coming from other states are not being tested for Covid-19….the cases in the state are increasing due to these people…Maharashtrians are facing the brunt,” Raj told reporters in Mumbai.

“We are not aware how many cases are being reported from other states….. people are coming from outside states and there is no count of such patients in Maharashtra. Once the numbers are counted, we would know how many cases are coming from other states,” he said.

Maharashtra is one of the most industrialised states and people regularly come here for jobs, he said. “Many places where they are coming from do not have enough testing facilities,” he added.

"During the lockdown last year, I had suggested that migrant workers who returned to their native places should be tested, but it was not done," Raj Thackeray told reporters after a virtual interaction with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

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Raj Thackeray said he asked the CM to allow sportspersons to join the practice sessions and to permit gymnasiums to function with social distancing.

Talking about the new set of restrictions imposed in Maharashtra from Monday night, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president said all shops should be kept open for at least two or three days during this period.

As per the curbs announced by the state government on Sunday, except for the essential services shops, medical shops and grocery shops, all other shops, markets and shopping malls will be closed in Maharashtra till April 30.

"The government says manufacturing will be allowed during the time of restrictions but not the shops. If shops are not allowed to remain open then what's the logic behind allowing the manufacturing activity?" he asked.

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He also demanded that the electricity bills of the people be waived during the lockdown period. "....Industrial production is stopped, offices are being closed and many people are losing their jobs. In such a scenario why should people pay the power bills?" he questioned.

Raj Thackeray appealed to the state government to promote all the students of classes 10 and 12, who are supposed to appear for the offline examinations.

The government should discuss with banks the issues like recovery of loans and arrears from the people, he added.

The MNS leader also said that full fees should not be charged from parents by schools because the education is shifted to the online mode.

Replying to questions on the resignation of state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Raj Thackeray said the focus should not be diverted from the main issue of the conspiracy behind the planting of an explosives-laden vehicle outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani in February.

"Anil Deshmukh is not important. Why did (former Mumbai police commissioner) Param Bir Singh remember the Rs 100 crore target only after his transfer. The allegations that Deshmukh set the target to some police officers to collect Rs 100 crore from hotels, restaurants and bars per month are shameful," he said.

(With inputs from PTI)