Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, and said “he had expressed confidence that the battle against COVID-19 would be won in 21 days, but it has been over 100 days and the crisis still persists”.

“The fight against COVID-19 is more difficult than the mythological war of Mahabharata”, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said, adding that the battle against the pandemic will continue till 2021 as the disease vaccine won’t be available before that.

It further expressed concern over India reporting the third highest COVID-19 cases in the world, saying “It is unfortunate and serious for the country, which is dreaming to become a financial superpower, to report over 25,000 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours.”

“We left Russia behind in terms of the number of cases. We will attain the number one slot in this unfortunate area if the number of cases continue to go up,” it said.

“Patients are recovering on a big scale in Maharashtra, but the situation in some areas of the state turns one restless”, it said citing the example of Thane district, which has been a major COVID-19 hotspot.

The Shiv Sena said, “several politicians, public representatives, policemen, health workers and other administrators are getting infected by the disease, and this does not suit the country and states”.

Without naming anyone or any party, the Shiv Sena said questions are being raised as to for how many days the lockdown will continue. But when you open the door (ease restrictions), the “messengers (threat) of coronavirus” are right out there, the Marathi publication said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has relaxed lockdown restrictions to some extent, but the threat is still not over, the Sena said.It said the COVID-19 must be fought even though the industries, economy and lifestyle have been hit hard by the disease.