Sadavarte dares Thackeray cousins to stop Chhath Puja in Mumbai on November 15

The row over Chhath Puja has heated up Maharashtra politics, with lawyer Gunaratna Sadavarte now joining the dispute. He launched a sharp attack on MNS president Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Sadavarte said both leaders were practising a politics that had hit rock bottom. He asserted that Chhath Puja would be held in Mumbai on November 15 and 16.

Sadavarte targeted the Thackeray cousins over opposition to religious events such as Chhath Puja and the Kumbh Mela. Mocking the two leaders, he said, "These are children, they will have to be called children." He said that instead of playing politics over festivals and celebrations, people's religious sentiments should be respected.

He also replied to those who ask why Bhojpuri songs are played in the railways. He said that describing festival songs as dance bar songs was cultural bankruptcy.

He also said that insulting anyone for being a Bihari was an insult to the Constitution. In this context, he said Chhath Puja songs are played at the airport in Bihar.

Sadavarte issued a direct challenge to both Thackerays. He said that wherever Chhath Puja was being held on November 15, they should come and stop it. He claimed that Chhath Puja would not be halted because of a few of Raj Thackeray's workers.

Sadavarte said he had filed a police complaint against those opposing Chhath Puja. He demanded immediate action against Raj Thackeray and his workers.

Citing the Calcutta High Court, he said the court there had permitted Chhath Puja. On that basis, he appealed to the Maharashtra government to grant the necessary permission as well. Raising the question of religious freedom, Sadavarte also said the country is one from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Political circles are now watching how Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray respond to Sadavarte's challenge.