Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has raised serious concerns regarding the cleanliness of the river Ganga and the quality of its water, making it clear that he would not take a holy dip in the river. Expressing skepticism, Thackeray urged people to move beyond what he described as superstition and to apply rational thinking when it comes to religious beliefs and practices related to the Ganga.
Speaking at a public gathering organized to mark the 19th foundation day of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Saturday, Thackeray openly questioned the purity of the river. He shared an incident involving his party leader, Bala Nandgaonkar, who had recently brought back a sample of holy water from the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj. However, Thackeray categorically refused to drink it, citing concerns about water contamination.
“Bala Nandgaonkar brought some water for me from the Kumbh, but I immediately declined. I told him to take it away. I am not going to bathe in that water, let alone drink it. Who would even consider drinking it? We just came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, where for two years, people were walking around with masks covering their faces. And now, suddenly, people are flocking to the Ganga, taking a dip, without questioning the water quality? Who in their right mind would do that?” Thackeray stated during his address.
While making expressive gestures, he further elaborated that he had seen numerous videos showing people immersing themselves in the river, scrubbing their bodies, and engaging in ritual baths. He emphasized that while faith is important, it should be accompanied by reason and logic. He remarked that every major river in India suffers from pollution, yet people continue to revere them as divine entities. In contrast, he pointed out that rivers in foreign countries are kept clean and well-maintained throughout the year without necessarily being given a religious status.
“Faith should have some logic and meaning to it. In India, not a single river is truly clean, yet we call them our mother. Meanwhile, in foreign countries, people do not even refer to their rivers as ‘mother,’ yet they ensure that their water bodies remain pristine and pollution-free. Here, our rivers are filled with contaminants because people continue to bathe in them, wash their clothes, and engage in various activities that contribute to pollution,” the MNS chief said.
Thackeray further noted that for decades, successive governments had promised to clean the Ganga, yet the situation had remained largely unchanged. “I have been hearing since the time of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that the Ganga will be cleaned. Unfortunately, despite numerous initiatives, that has not happened. People need to wake up from blind faith and superstition and start thinking critically about these issues,” he added.
Thackeray’s remarks have sparked a political debate, coming at a time when opposition parties have been strongly criticizing the Uttar Pradesh government over the issue of water quality at the Maha Kumbh. The controversy escalated after reports surfaced claiming that the water in the Kumbh area was unfit for bathing. However, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dismissed these concerns, asserting that the water quality at the Sangam in Prayagraj was not only suitable for taking a dip but was also fit for the traditional ritual of ‘aachman’ (drinking holy water as part of religious practice).
Adityanath’s statement came in response to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which had found alarmingly high levels of ‘faecal coliform’ bacteria in the Ganga at Prayagraj. The initial findings had raised health concerns, as high levels of fecal coliform indicate significant contamination and the potential presence of harmful pathogens.
However, in a subsequent report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the CPCB revised its stance, stating that, based on statistical analysis, the water quality during the Maha Kumbh was deemed fit for bathing. This revised report created further confusion and controversy as it appeared to contradict the board’s earlier findings.
According to the CPCB’s new assessment, the statistical analysis was necessary due to the “variability of data” collected from different locations on different dates. The board explained that water quality parameters fluctuated significantly depending on the time and place of sampling. As a result, the data collected on specific days may not have accurately represented the overall water quality throughout the entire river stretch during the Kumbh.
The CPCB report, dated February 28 and subsequently uploaded on the NGT’s website on March 7, outlined the extensive water monitoring efforts carried out during the Maha Kumbh. The board conducted water quality tests twice a week from January 12 onward, covering auspicious bathing days. The monitoring was conducted at five different locations along the Ganga and two locations along the Yamuna to assess the overall condition of the water.
With inputs from PTI, this unfolding controversy over the cleanliness of the Ganga highlights the ongoing debate surrounding religious traditions, environmental conservation, and public health concerns. The conflicting reports and political reactions indicate that water quality remains a pressing issue, necessitating sustained efforts to ensure the preservation and cleanliness of India’s sacred rivers.