Raj Thackeray cancels MNS Deepotsav at Shivaji Park this year because of drought

MNS chief Raj Thackeray has announced that the Deepotsav will not be held this year at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park ground in Mumbai. He made the announcement in a video. Thackeray said the decision not to hold the Deepotsav had been taken by "us".

The decision comes against the backdrop of drought in the state. Drought has been declared in 304 of the state's 358 talukas. Standing crops over an estimated 141.53 lakh hectares have been damaged, including rain-fed and irrigated crops and fruit orchards.

The MNS holds a Deepotsav at Shivaji Park every year, with striking lighting and fireworks. In the video, Thackeray said there is great enthusiasm for the event each year. According to him, people come specially from Mumbai, Thane and every corner of Maharashtra to see it and enjoy it.

Thackeray said the only reason for not holding the Deepotsav this year is the terrible drought that Maharashtra is facing, that has already arrived and that is still to come. In his words, he did not feel it was right to hold such a celebration amid such a drought.

He said Maharashtra is going through very unusual conditions. In many places, villages face a water crisis, and the drought is severe and will worsen. He said we should ourselves think about how our brothers and sisters in rural areas, and their children, will feel on seeing the enthusiasm with which we are celebrating Diwali.

Referring to the Chief Minister, Thackeray said the Chief Minister has said this drought will be worse than that of 1972. He said this had been stated in advance, yet people of the ruling party perhaps failed to understand it and went on playing garba. He said, "Well, that is their question", meaning it is their own affair. Thackeray said that while celebrating Diwali and holding such a Deepotsav, he himself does not feel right about it, which is why the decision was taken this year.

Thackeray also made a humble appeal to the public. He said crowds of people from many places will leave and head towards the cities, and the state of the cities is already visible. In such a situation, he did not feel it right to celebrate on a large scale, and in his view people should not feel it right either. He clarified that this is not about observing a dark Diwali. Lanterns can be hung and Diwali sweets and snacks shared, and everything else can be done, but decorative lighting and firecrackers should be curbed. In his words, it is a matter of restraint on oneself.

Thackeray expressed hope that everything will be fine next year and prayed to God for it. He said Diwali and the Deepotsav will again be celebrated with great fanfare next year. He ended by conveying heartfelt Diwali greetings to all on his own behalf, on behalf of his party and on behalf of his family.