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Will never take a dip in Ganga: MNS chief Raj Thackeray

Thackeray said his party leader, Bala Nandgaonkar, had brought holy water from the Maha Kumbh held in Prayagraj recently but he refused to drink it

Thackeray said there is not a single clean river in the country (Express File)

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday raised questions about the cleanliness of the River Ganga and said that he would never take a dip in the river.

Addressing MNS workers and leaders at a an event organised to mark the 19th foundation day of his party in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Thackeray said his party leader, Bala Nandgaonkar, had brought holy water from the Maha Kumbh held in Prayagraj recently but he refused to drink it.

“We had organised a party meeting in Mumbai. Some did not attend as they were ill, 5-6 of them had gone to Maha Kumbh. I ask them as to why do they commit the sin? Then I asked them whether they took bath after returning. Bala Nandgaonkar (party leader) brought the holy water…I told him I will not drink it…We should come out of the superstitious mindset.”

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“Who will drink that water…I have seen several swimming pools which are clear blue at the start and then water turns green…Who would like to swim there ?,” he asked.

Thackeray said there is not a single clean river in the country.

“We worship river as our mother. When I travel abroad, I see clean rivers. They don’t worship the rivers. Our rivers are all polluted. From the time Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister, we have heard about the clean Ganga campaign. Raj Kapoor also made a movie on Ganga river…but Ganga is still not clean…We should come out of the superstitious beliefs,” he said.

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