19 FIRS OVER FLOUTING OF COVID NORMS AT BJP EVENT

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Police on Thursday registered 19 first information reports (FIRs) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and organisers of Union minister Narayan Rane’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra for allegedly violating Covid-19 norms.

Four Union ministers from Maharashtra started the yatra in the state on Thursday. The newly inducted ministers in the Union Council are holding these tours across the country as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was unable to introduce them in Parliament due to protests by the Opposition.

BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Pravin Darekar were among leaders who participated in Rane’s yatra in Mumbai on Thursday.

BJP leader Keshav Upadhye called the registration of FIRs biased. “Political functions are being organised across the state by all parties including the (ruling) Shiv Sena. A large number of people are gathering in those events too, but no cases are registered against members of the ruling party.”

He added that the BJP is regularly asking its workers attending the yatra to follow Covid protocols and is also distributing masks.

“As Jan Ashirwad Yatra is receiving overwhelming response from the people, the state government has taken this action against the party workers. But we will not stop,” he said. Mumbai Police spokesperson Chaitanya Siriprolu said notices were being served and further action would be taken as per the procedure.