NAVI MUMBAI: Locals gather on Palm Beach Road near CBD Belapur as they protest the renaming of Navi Mumbai International Airport, in Navi Mumbai, Thursday, June 24, 2021.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday questioned the Maharashtra government for holding political rallies amid the pandemic by flouting the COVID-19 protocol.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice GS Kulkarni asked how such rallies, including rallies organized in the name of an upcoming airport in neighboring Navi Mumbai earlier this month, were allowed when the state government took steps to prevent the spread of COVID19. Large gatherings were banned for .
“Activate your machinery to stop any political rallies defying the Covid protocol. If you can’t handle it, let the court do it. We won’t let that happen. We are closing the courts, we are not able to work with full force and these political leaders are holding rallies? Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta told the Advocate General.
“We thought it would be 5,000 but the last rally was 25k. How will you manage covid? Is it time to rally? And what’s the issue? Airport naming. Can’t it wait till the end of covid?”
The court further asked whether holding political rallies to gain “gain” was more important than preventing the spread of the coronavirus infection. “There are rallies in the state for Maratha reservation. That issue is pending in the Supreme Court. Let them decide. Why can’t politicians go before voters and say that the matter is pending in court? Are they (politicians) less responsible than those who set up fake vaccination camps?? Everyone is trying to take advantage for political gains.
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