Maharashtra Floods | Temples helping flood victims, why not places of worship of other religious communities?: BJP

Keshav Upadhye. Pic/X

Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye on Tuesday said various temples have come forward to help flood victims in the state, and asked why places of worship from other religious communities had not extended similar support.

This is not an issue of Hindu or Muslim, but of sensitivity, Upadhye claimed in a post on X.

The state has been besieged by excessive rains and deluge, with lakhs of families caught in distress and hundreds devastated by the calamity, he pointed out.

In such a difficult period, several Hindu temples have set an example by extending large-scale and transparent assistance to the state government as well as to those directly impacted, Upadhye said.

"But why are the places of worship of other religions in the state - dargahs and mosques - lagging behind? Even though their administrations hold funds worth crores, why has there been no concrete announcement of help, no transparent information about funds, and no relief extended to flood victims? The question is not of Hindu or Muslim, the question is of sensitivity," he said.

The BJP leader specifically cited the Tuljabhavani Temple, Shegaon Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan and Siddhivinayak Temple, noting they had collectively sent aid worth crores of rupees to the government in a transparent manner.

Many temples, trusts and public organisations had, in their own capacity, reached out to the distressed with food, funds and essential commodities, thereby demonstrating the spirit of humanity, he added.

Taking a swipe at political opponents, Upadhye said that leaders and thinkers who sometimes "wear the bogus mask of Hindutva" and at other times profess love for "Ganga-Jamuni culture" while mocking temples and criticising Hindus should reflect upon these questions themselves.

Several parts of Maharashtra, including the usually drought-prone Marathwada region, witnessed heavy rains and floods recently, causing widespread damage.

Earlier, Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye on Monday demanded that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray cancel his party's annual Dussehra rally and utilise the expenditure for flood relief in Marathwada.

Hitting back, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said his party does not need any advice from the BJP.

In the past, Dussehra rallies have taken place after heavy rains, he said, adding the event will give direction to Maharashtra.

Holding the Dussehra rally is a long-standing tradition for Thackeray and the Sena. This year too, he is slated to address the rally at Shivaji Park here on Dussehra on October 2.

When Thackeray was the state's chief minister, he "failed to act and remained at home", Upadhye alleged, adding that this is the time to "atone".