Mumbai, August 29: The Maharashtra unit of the BJP on Saturday staged `ring the bell' agitation across the state to press its demand that religious places be reopened.

Chandrakant Patil, state unit president, said, "The state government has opened liquor shops as well as shopping outlets but not religious places. It is unacceptable." Also Read | Reliance Retail and Future Group Deal Details: Mukesh Ambani Owned RIL Announces Acquisition of Future Retail Business For Rs 24,713 Crore.

Party leaders and workers protested outside prominent temples and other religious places and rang bells. Patil claimed that the Union government has allowed the states to open temples and mosques (and other religious places) "but the state government remained adamant". Also Read | Reliance Retail Buys Future Group Businesses: Mukesh Ambani Owned RIL Announces Acquisition of Kishore Biyani Owned Retail Business For Rs 24,713.

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that if people are willing to follow the coronavirus-related norms, the state government should not stop them from following their faith. "People will get mental relief if they are allowed access to temples," he said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)