Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday lashed out at the delegates and organisers of the Tablighi Jamaat event in New Delhi's Nizamuddin area, saying they should not have been treated and instead be shot. "The Markaz issue that took place in Delhi is exasperating. Why should they be treated? They should be shot. Our country is undergoing such a huge crisis and at such times, they are putting religion above the nation?" Thackeray's social media team quoted him as saying.



If there is some devious conspiracy going on, then such elements need to be singled out and lashed at, Thackeray added. "And such videos (of the punishment) need to go viral. The prime minister needs to also speak about such behaviour."



The Thackeray scion also questioned religious leaders of Islam who issue fatwas. "All these Maulvis issue fatwas during election time. They give sermons on whom to vote, etc. Why are they quiet now?" he asked. He added that no one should speak up if the government or any party was forced to take stern action against the violators of the lockdown.



At the same time, he applauded the Maharashtra police force for stopping a similar markaz event in the state. The Delhi police, on the other hand, did not preempt the threat of such a gathering. "This is not a time for blame-game nor am I making it a religious thing. However, all these extremist elements in Muslims need to be taught a lesson now; they should bear in mind that this lockdown is not permanent. We are there after that!" he added.

Thackeray also expressed his disappointment that the prime minister's addresses were not giving any assurances to the people. He argued people under lockdown have so many anxious questions about the duration, availability of essential commodities, employment statuses and other issues. In addition, there is "sensory overload in the form of excess messages on social media". Thackeray felt. "Keeping all these issues in mind, I expected the prime minister to take these issues and speak up... I was expecting some glimmer of assurances and hope projected in his talk as that would have made a big difference. What is the future of our industries. Employments? When will he speak about this?" Thackeray asked a local news channel during an interview on Saturday.

So far, over 95 per cent of the coronavirus cases reported over the last two days in India have been found to have links with the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi.

Tablighi Jamaat links have been found in cases across 15 states including Andaman and Nicobar, Assam, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.