There is an alleged nexus between the state government and the dance bar owners in the city say, Raj Thackeray.
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray took potshots at the state government by saying that even though BJP had promised to bring achhe din for citizens but good days have come for bar dancers and restaurants. He criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and said that he had softened his stand on the dance bar issue. Raj took a jibe at Fadnavis and said ‘Ab ki baar, dance bar”.
Raj Thackeray said, “There has been a hidden understanding between the government and dance bar owners for reopening of dance bars. A closed door meeting has been conducted between both the and everything has been finalised. The government has been giving more priority to the dance bar issue instead of concentrating on other important problems faced by the common man.”
“When the BJP government was in opposition it had made allegations against the NCP for not presenting the facts properly in the Supreme Court. During that period Fadnavis had criticised the NCP for lacking political will to resolve the dance bar issue amicably. After becoming Chief Minister why Fadnavis is unable to take right decision in this regard. There is an alleged nexus between the state government and the dance bar owners in the city. Is the CM working for the interests of dance bar owners and employees?” he asked.
There is a possibility that the dance bars will reopen soon after the Supreme Court order to the state. Raj asked that the government lacks political will for solving the dance bar issue. He said that there are several pending tasks which needs to be completed but the state government is giving more priority to the dance bar issue.
The Supreme Court has asked the Maharashtra government to issue dance licences to hotels and restaurants in the city by March 15. The apex court ordered that CCTV should not be installed at places where bar dancers perform as it amounts to violation of privacy of performers.
There was an ongoing tussle between the state and judiciary regarding the issue, after the state banned dance bars in 2005, and the court declared this unconstitutional in 2013. Following the verdict, the state government had again imposed a law banning dance bars in 2014. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier said he supported the ban on the bars.
Earlier, on February 24, the apex court had come down heavily on the Maharashtra government for putting conditions for granting licences to dance bars across the state.
