Shiv Sena ministers Ramdas Kadam oppose ban on deities' pictures in government offices

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena ministers today requested Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to cancel a circular banning religious pictures in government offices.

The Sena ministers, in the BJP-led state government, today called on Fadnavis to make a formal representation in this regard.

Later, while talking to reporters, Sena minister Ramdas Kadam claimed that the Chief Minister has agreed to cancel the directive.

"The CM has agreed to cancel this directive and has told us that an inquiry would be initiated against the official responsible for the directive," Kadam said.

Notably, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had also yesterday slammed the state government's recent order banning the celebration of religious festivals, pujas and pictures of deities in government offices, alleging that party ministers were not taken into confidence before issuing the circular.

"Where was your transparency before you took this decision? Why were Sena ministers not taken into confidence? Had they been, they would have strongly protested it," Thackeray had yesterday said.

Wondering why pictures of deities could not be hung in offices, Thackeray said he accepted secularism, but it should be applied without discrimination.

"If you have the courage, implement the Uniform Civil Code," he said.

The Maharashtra government had last week directed rural civic bodies to remove photos of Gods or religious figures from government offices and state-run schools with immediate effect.

The offices were reminded that solicitation of any religion by displaying religious slogans and performing puja was against the provisions of Constitution.