Govt’s ‘handi of sins’ full to brim: Ashok Chavan

Mumbai: The Congress used Monday’s dahi handi (Govinda) celebrations in Maharashtra to protest the alleged “sins” of the BJP-led government at the Centre and in the state. Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan broke a dahi handi (earthen pot) with the latter symbolising the alleged sins of the BJP government while leading the protest at Karad.

Congress leaders and activists carried banners with the message that the handi of the governments’ “sins” was filled to the brim. “Now people will break the dahi handi of the ‘sins’ of this government in 2019,” stated Mr Chavan.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, and former state ministers Balasaheb Thorat and Harshvardhan Patil participated in the demonstration and shouted slogans against the Union and state government.

Dahi Handi is a ritual observed in Maharashtra the day after Janmashtami (birth of Lord Krishna) where young boys and girls form human pyramids with the person right on top breaking the earthen pot containing curd, symbolising victory through unity.

The Congress’ protest is part of the first phase of its Jan Sangharsh Yatra, a public outreach exercise to highlight the alleged failures of the BJP-led central and state governments, ahead of the 2019 polls.

The programme was launched on Friday.