Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to consider reopening of gyms in the state. Fadnavis, who is the Leader of Opposition, in his letter to CM Thackeray, said that when the state government has allowed liquor shops to resume business, it should also allow gyms to operate.

“If you’ve opened liquor shops, why not allow gyms. Improving state’s financial condition is important but health is more important in these times,” the former CM said in his letter. Gyms across Maharashtra have been closed for almost five months due to coronavirus pandemic.

Fadnavis’ letter has come a couple of days after several gym owners met Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray over the issue. “I am saying open the gyms, whoever wants to come, will come. Let’s see what happens,” Raj Thackeray said after the meeting. He also questioned the state government’s logic of keeping the gyms closed when the Centre has allowed them to function outside Covid-19 containment zones with proper guidelines.

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As per the Unlock 3 guidelines issues by the Centre, gymnasiums , yoga institutes were allowed to function from August 5. The Home Ministry had also removed the night curfew put in place to restrict the movement of people.

However, metro rail, cinema halls, swimming pools, auditoriums and other places of gathering would remain closed till August 31, the ministry said. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions too will be shut till the said date.