Raj Thackeray urged citizens to practice restraint during Diwali as rural Maharashtra faces severe drought and farmer financial pressure.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray announced on Wednesday that the party will skip its annual Dipotsav Diwali event at Shivaji Park in Mumbai this year. According to the Hindustan Times, the decision was made because of the severe drought affecting the state.
In a video message, Thackeray requested that people be mindful during the Diwali festival. He stated that extravagant celebrations would not be prudent while rural Maharashtra deals with drought, financial pressure on farmers, and the migration of thousands to cities.
The Maharashtra government has declared 85 per cent of the state as drought-hit following deficient rains this year. The government also announced an interim aid of Rs 5,000 for farmers before Diwali.
The Dipotsav event typically features light decorations around Shivaji Park and a synchronised firecracker display that attracts thousands of attendees. Previous years have seen inaugurations by figures such as Salim Khan, Javed Akhtar, Eknath Shinde, and Devendra Fadnavis.
Thackeray mentioned that the party intends to organise the Dipotsav next year if the situation improves.
