The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said that the Maharashtra government must stop any political rally, which flouted Covid-19 protocols, from being carried out in the state amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
“Activate your machinery to stop any political rallies defying Covid protocols. If you can’t handle it, let it be done by the court. We will not allow this to happen. We are shutting down courts, we are not being able to work at full strength and these political leaders are organising rallies,” Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta told state Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni.
Last week, thousands of people staged a protest in CBD Belapur area demanding that the under-construction Navi Mumbai international airport be named after late D B Patil, a local leader. They asked for nixing of the decision to name the airport after late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.
Referring to the protest rally, the high court said the airport is not even ready yet, but people are already organising rallies over its potential name just for political benefits. “We thought there will be a maximum of 5,000 people but the last rally had 25,000 people. How will you manage Covid? Is this the time to rally? And what is the issue? Naming the Airport. Can it not wait till Covid is over?” the court asked.
The High Court also asked if holding political rallies for gaining “mileage” was more important than preventing the spread of the Covid-19 infection.
