Raj Thackeray's first response to Nizamuddin Markaz event, says they shouldn't be treated

In his first response after Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz event became new hotspot of coronavirus spread, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray labelled Markaz attendees' act as irresponsible. Coronavirus positive cases across country have seen a sudden spike over last two days, with 62% coming from those who attended Tablighi Jamaat's event in Delhi.  

"y should be shot down. Why do y need treatment", said Raj Thackeray addressing media for first time since lockdown was enforced. 

Tablighi Jamaat had in mid-March organised Markaz event in Delhi's Nizamuddin mosque and hosted over 2,000 people amid Coronavirus outbreak.  Nizamuddin West area emerged as a hotspot of COVID 19 spread, days 24 people who attended congregation tested positive, leading to a nationwide tracing of attendees. Jamaat chief Maulana Saad had allegedly urged to defy lockdown and come out to pray toger to break COVID-19 “curse”.

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'Lockdown should be followed strictly'

Raj Thackeray urged people to follow lockdown and warned of its extension if y failed to do so, on Saturday. Pointing out at lackadaisical response of citizens to lockdown, MNS chief said that complete shutdown measure should be taken seriously in order to deal with pandemic effectively.  

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leader condemned attacks on health, civic and police officials and applauded ir efforts to keep pandemic at bay. Referring to incident where a cop was manhandled, Raj Thackeray advocated strict action, saying that registring a case was t eugh. Raj Thackeray questioned need to hide COVID-19 symptoms and said that police would only help those and t put m behind bars. 

"Regards to this, I had a word with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and asked him to take strict action against those accused", said Raj Thackeray. 

Urging citizens to understand value of those providing essential services including health workers, police & media, Raj Thackeray insisted that gratitude could be paid back by remaining indoors.  

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47 fresh Corovirus positive cases reported in Maharashtra as on Saturday- 28 in Mumbai, 15 in Thane district, 1 in Amravati, 2 in Pune and 1 in Pimpri Chinchwad; total number of positive cases in state rises to 537, Maharashtra Health Department reported

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