Earlier, Shiv Sena was known to cause and amplify Hindu-Muslim riots easily. However, there have been some changes which can be seen in the past one year.
The coronavirus spread through one international conference 'Tabligi Jamaat' in Delhi. The conference was a Muslim one and rumours spread through social media that Muslims were spreading the virus purposely.
Uddhav Thackeray said,
Like Coronavirus there is another virus that is emerging which is threatening social harmony, the virus of fake news & communal hatred.
We will save Maharashtra from this [corona] crisis. But, if someone circulates fake news or videos like commodities or notes being smeared with saliva or with inflammatory content, my law will catch up with them. They will not be spared. Dont do this even for fun.
The names of those who attended the Delhi event are in our records and all the participants have been traced. They have been isolated and quarantined in Government facilities. People should come forward to inform us about anyone left out.
Till further notice, no permission will be given for cultural, religious and sporting events.
A lockdown was imposed in March to curb the spread of the virus. During the lockdown, religious gatherings were banned and places of worship were closed.
Earlier, Shiv Sena used to be very passionate about religious gatherings and performing prayers in temples. For example, when the atom bombs were tested in 1998, Shiv Sena wanted to build a temple on the spot. It apparently did not take note of the fact that the builders and then the people who went to worship would be exposed to a lot of harmful radiation.
However, the government now took all precautions because of the virus. It did not open up places of worship (let alone religious gathering ) for a long time.
Other states began to open up places of worship. But the Maharashtra government stuck to its restrictions. One by one, political parties began demanding the reopening of places of worship. First it was the central ruling BJP and Owaisi's AIMIM which ask for votes from Hindus and Muslims respectively. Both the parties announced protests on 29th August. They wanted places of worship to be opened in September.
There is no logic in the state government''s insistence on keeping religious places shut any longer. If the government fails to open these places from September 1, I will offer prayers in a mosque at Shahgunj in Aurangabad on September 2. I also urge Hindus to open their temples on September 1.
--Imtiyaz Jaleel, AIMIM MP, Aurangabad Maharashtra [Sources 1, 2 ]
Then almost all other parties began to demand the reopening of places of worship. But Uddhav Thackeray stood firm.
On 12th October 2020, the Maharashtra Governor wrote a letter. The letter stated,
You have been a strong votary of Hindutva..have you suddenly turned ‘Secular’ yourselves, the term you hated
Uddhav Thackeray replied,
Why should we ask such a question? Are you saying that only opening places of worship is Hindutva and not opening them is secular?
He also wrote ‘My Hindutva does not need your certificate.’
English translation of Uddhav Thackeray's reply is available on Republic World.
The Maharashtra government opened places of worship on 16th with certain Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs).
How did Shiv Sena change so much?
One explanation is that since it is allied with NCP and Congress, it needs to change. The other reason is that there were very valid reasons not to open places of worship. Other parties running governments may feel pressure from religious groups to open them. But given Shiv Sena's history, it will not feel such pressure and do what is best for the state in general.
All places of worship are closed. So where is God? Where did God go? That God is in us. It is important that we heal each other. He is helping you as a doctor. The sick are healed. Considering this in the present context, God's blessing is to get it in the form of medicine. Getting patient care. All of these things are part of it.
– Uddhav Thackeray
The change in Shiv Sena is also because the situation around it has changed. Earlier, it was a political party trying hard to do stuff as per its ideology. Now some of its goals have already been achieved. For example, the Ram Temple construction has begun.
What's more, it is running tho government so it can do things in a pragmatic way. The party has always been against 'outsiders' and wants Mumbai to be only for Marathis. Earlier it would conduct riots to drive away outsiders. Now, it is in the government. During the lockdown, many migrant workers were out of a job and wanted to go to their native place. The Maharashtra government was very proactive in making arrangements for them to go home. It did not make it easy for them to come back.
Read also:
Maharashtra CM withdrew cases against Aarey protesters on 1st Oct 2020. Here is why he chose that particular day.
Cases had been filed by the previous BJP government. If Uddhav Thackeray had wanted to, he could have withdrawn them as he assumed office. He specifically chose 1st Oct the next year.
