Maharashtra Prime Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Sunday that several people have hatched a conspiracy to defame the state amid criticism over the growing cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and the dispute involving the Bollywood actor. Kangana Ranaut.
“Some people may feel that now the coronavirus disease is over and they should start their politics again. I will not talk about politics, but there is a conspiracy to discredit Maharashtra, ”Thackeray said in a televised public address.
However, he did not name anyone.
Maharashtra, which is the worst affected state in the country, has seen more than one million cases of the coronavirus disease. There has also been a controversy recently over Ranaut after his office was demolished by the state-controlled civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The prime minister assured people that he is ready to face any “storm”, be it politics or the coronavirus disease. “Regardless of the political storms that come, I will face them … I will also fight the coronavirus pandemic,” Thackeray said.
“My silence does not mean that I have no answers,” he added.
In his latest speech, which came a day after the Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra crossed the million mark, Thackeray also said that his government has done an effective job in addressing the pandemic.
Speaking about the Covid-19 situation in the state, Thackeray said that it is likely to become more serious in the coming days. He also urged people to follow all social distancing rules to control the spread of the virus.
Ranaut and Shiv Sena, directed by Thackeray, have been embroiled in a bitter war of words after the acclaimed actress said she feels unsafe in Mumbai and does not trust the Mumbai police after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
On Wednesday, BMC partially demolished Ranaut’s office in Bandra, drawing criticism from various political leaders and their Bollywood colleagues. Flanked by security guards provided by the Union Ministry of the Interior, Ranaut had arrived in Mumbai hours after the BMC carried out the demolition.
Maharashtra is among the states hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. On Sunday, the state reported 22,084 new cases, bringing its count to 10,37,765, including 7,28,512 recoveries and 279,768 active cases, according to the state health department.
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