Raj Thackeray: Ganga Cleanliness

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Raj Thackeray questions the Ganga River’s cleanliness, declining to take a holy dip.
He urged people to abandon superstitions and use their intellect to address the issue.
Thackeray highlighted the pollution in Indian rivers compared to cleaner rivers abroad.
He mentioned hearing about Ganga’s cleanup efforts since former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s time.
He also questioned Uttar Pradesh government’s claims about Kumbh water suitability.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has raised serious concerns about the cleanliness of the Ganga River. He questioned the water quality, asserting it was unfit for bathing. This statement was made during a program marking his party’s 19th foundation day. Raj Thackeray advised people to move away from superstition and use their minds, focusing on the environmental challenges.

Thackeray mentioned that his party leader, Bala Nandgaonkar, brought holy water from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. However, he refused to drink it. “Bala Nandgaonkar had brought some water for me, I said, go away. I am not going to take a bath. Who will drink that water? Covid has just passed and people were roaming around with masks on their faces for two years. Now, they are going there and taking a bath. Who will go and take a holy dip in that Ganga?” he questioned.

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Thackeray also referred to videos showing people rubbing their bodies and bathing in the Ganga. He emphasized that every river in the country is polluted. Contrastingly, rivers in foreign countries remain clean throughout the year. The lack of Ganga cleanliness is a point of political debate.

“Faith should also have some meaning. Not a single river in the country is clean, but we call it our mother. In foreign countries, the river is not called mother, but it remains absolutely clean, and all our rivers are polluted. Someone is bathing in it or washing clothes,” the MNS chief said. Efforts to improve Ganga cleanliness have been ongoing for decades.

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He emphasized that he has been hearing since the time of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that the river Ganga would be cleaned. “Unfortunately, that is not happening. People should come out of all this faith and superstition and use their heads properly,” he added.

Thackeray’s remarks come as opposition parties criticize the Uttar Pradesh government’s statement claiming Kumbh water is unsuitable for bathing. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, however, stated that the water quality at the Sangam in Prayagraj was suitable for taking a dip and performing aachman (drinking holy water).

Adityanath’s statement follows a controversy over a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) report. The report highlighted alarming levels of ‘faecal coliform’ bacteria in the Ganga in Prayagraj. The urgency of ensuring Ganga cleanliness is highlighted by these findings.

However, a new report by the CPCB submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) stated that, based on statistical analysis, the water quality during the Kumbh was fit for bathing.

The report explained that statistical analysis was necessary due to “variability of data” in the samples collected. These variations occurred across different dates and locations, thus not reflecting the “overall river water quality throughout the river stretch.”

The report, dated February 28 and uploaded on the NGT’s website on March 7, mentioned that the board conducted water monitoring twice a week from January 12 onward. This included auspicious bathing days at five locations on the river Ganga and two locations on the river Yamuna.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

Raj Thackeray questioned the Ganga River’s cleanliness and declined to bathe.
He expressed concerns regarding the pollution levels in the Ganga River.
Thackeray urged people to abandon superstitions and focus on facts.
Questions were raised about the Uttar Pradesh government’s statements regarding Kumbh water.
Dissatisfaction was expressed with the ongoing efforts to improve Ganga cleanliness.