New Delhi, August 23
The Mumbai police registered seven fresh new FIRs against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and workers for allegedly violating COVID-19 protocols during the Jan Ashirwad Yatra of Union Minister Narayan Rane in Mumbai.
The police had earlier filed 17 FIRs against BJP's rally in Mumbai for flouting COVID-19 norms. Till August 20, 19 FIRs were registered against the BJP leaders and workers in different police stations of Mumbai and with the new cases being filed the total number of FIRs registered has risen to 36.
These 17 FIRs were registered in Mulund, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Bhandup, Pant Nagar, Khar, Santacruz, Powai, MIDC, Saki Naka, Meghwadi, Goregaon, Charkop, Borivali and MHB police stations in Mumbai.
The Jan Ashirwad Yatra was started in Mumbai on August 19 despite the restrictions from the Mumbai Police. The yatra received several objections from in view of the ongoing pandemic in the state.
Incidentally, BJP leader Rane himself had condemned the Maharashtra government for its failure to tackle the pandemic situation in the state and said he would continue his rally despite FIRs fired against his yatra.
Congress leaders Ashok Chavan and Bhai Jagtap had slammed BJP for disregarding the pandemic situation in the state and holding the rally. Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde had also refuted BJP's claims of the Maharashtra government targetting their party and asserted that Covid-19 guidelines must be followed by all the people irrespective of their political background.
The Mumbai police have so far filed 43 FIRs in connection with this yatra.
