Can’t stand on stool to break dahi handi: Raj Thackeray

On August 17, the Supreme Court said that children below 18 years of age cannot participate in the upcoming dahi handi festival in Maharashtra

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday blamed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government for failing to present their case on dahi handi effectively, which led to Supreme Court’s restriction on the height of the pyramid and age of the revelers taking part in the festivities.

MNS chief Raj Thackeray blamed the Devendra Fadnavis-led government for failing to present their case on dahi handi effectively. (File photo)

Read: Dahi handi pyramids can’t have those below 18 years, rules SC

Schools want exemption from dahi handi ban

“I am against commercialization of the festival, but there could have been a code of conduct governing it,” he said.

“The 20-ft restriction is wrong. Are we supposed to stand on a stool and break the handi. The court should have heard the dahi handi mandals before delivering the verdict. There are mandals who take safety precautions and the court should have told others to follow them,” he said.

Thackeray said accidents should not be used to restrict the celebration.

“Accidents happen even on expressways. So does that mean you will close down the expressways? Are we supposed to not send our children below 18 to learn cricket just because they will get hurt,” he asked.