MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday said migrant workers from other states were responsible for the rapid spread of coronavirus in Maharashtra, which has been reporting a large number of new infections since the last few weeks.
He said the states the migrant labourers came from lacked adequate facilities to test them for coronavirus.
"Maharashtra is the most industrialised state in India which attracts a large number of workers from other states. The places from where these workers come lacked enough testing facilities.
"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.
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.
AdvertisementHe 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.
AdvertisementRaj 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.
