'Take pledge, make Maharashtra free from COVID-19': CM Thackeray on 75th Independence Day

Stating that the COVID-19 pandemic took everyone to the "pre-independence days", Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, AUgust 15, encouraged the people to take a pledge to make the state free from Coronavirus.

On the occasion of India's 75th Independence Day, Thackeray unfurled the national flag at the state secretariat Mantralaya. He said the state was fighting COVID-19 with determination and assured that the vaccination drive against the disease was also being expedited. "Just yesterday, we achieved a milestone of vaccinating 9.5 lakh citizens on a single day," he noted.

Stating that the country achieved independence due to people's struggle and movement, he called on the citizens to help the state get rid of COVID-19, so everyone could celebrate Independence Day freely next year.

"We are now celebrating 75 years of freedom, and we have to take the pledge that we will make our state and the country free of coronavirus and celebrate Independence Day next year freely. The pandemic had taken everyone back to the pre-independence days and we all were experiencing the same in the last one-and-a-half years," he said.

Thackeray also informed that most of the COVID-19 restrictions are now being relaxed, but the threat is far from over. "New strains of the virus are being detected in other countries...we have to take care that the threat doesn't hit us," he said.

The CM said even though medicines and vaccines are available, "there is still a shortage of oxygen". "We are easing restrictions based on the availability of oxygen. I appeal to citizens to follow COVID-19-appropriate behavior," he said. Thackeray warned that the state will be put under lockdown once again if there is a spike in daily COVID-19 cases and taking into account the availability of oxygen.

Uddhav Thackeray pays tribute to COVID-19 warriors, victims

The chief minister also paid tributes to COVID-19 warriors and citizens who lost their lives to the deadly infection. He said celebrating Independence Day keeping in mind the history is not enough, but the need of the hour is to preserve the freedom, secured due to the sacrifices of several people. "It is our duty to preserve the values of freedom," he said.

Thackeray also paid tributes to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, saying the warrior king sowed the seeds of struggle for independence from foreign rule. He also attended the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Bombay High Court. The tricolour was unfurled at the HC by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta, who also handed over a cheque of  Rs 3.41 crore for the chief minister's fund for COVID-19 relief.