Pune/Mumbai: Defying social distancing norms, scores of members of the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) and Warkaris launched a protest on Monday for reopening of the famous temple of Lord Vitthal at Pandharpur town in Maharashtra’s Solapur district.During their agitation near the temple, shut due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ambedkar said they were waiting for a response from the district collector over the demand and added that “I am here to break rules,” prompting the Shiv Sena and the Congress to hit out at him.Ambedkar later claimed that 15 members, including him, were allowed to enter the temple. Later in the day, police booked more than 1,000 people, including Ambedkar and members of Warkari outfits, for unlawful assembly and for violating COVID-19 restrictions during the protest, a senior police officer said.The VBA is supporting the demand of the Vishwa Warkari Sena, an outfit of devotees of Lord Vitthal, which had given a memorandum to the Solapur district administration seeking that all temples reopened in Maharashtra.The police barricaded roads leading to the temple to stop the protesters.During the protest, Ambedkar was asking the protesters to maintain social distancing and keep calm.To a question on the protesters gathering in a large number and there is no social distancing, he said it is the sentiments of people that have brought them to Pandharpur.Reacting to it, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and opposition leaders will find a way out on the issue of reopening temples and urged against talking about breaking rules at least on health issues.“In such a situation, when a medical emergency is prevailing, for a key person like Prakash Ambedkar to speak the language of breaking rules is like provoking people,” Raut told reporters in Mumbai.“We could see social distancing norms, which are key in combating the crisis, being violated blatantly today outside the temple. Thousands of people have gathered there and the disease can spread due to it,” he said.The chief minister has not permitted reopening temples sensing these pitfalls, he said.Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said it was unfortunate that Prakash Ambedkar violated social distancing norms as he led the agitation in Pandharpur.Representatives of sections of societies should cooperate with the government when a pandemic is prevailing, Sawant told reporters in Mumbai.“I would like to tell Prakash Ambedkar saheb that there is Ambedkar in your name and (Dr B R) Ambedkar has drafted the Constitution. Hence, it is very sad that you broke rules, he said.Meanwhile, police have invoked sections 143 and 144 of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Bombay Police Act, Disaster Management Act and Epidemic Disease Act against Ambedkar and others, the officer said.“A case has been registered against over 1,000 people, including Ambedkar and members of the warkari outfits, for unlawful assembly and violating the COVID-19 restrictions that inflicted to stop the spread of the virus,” said Manoj Patil, Superintendent of Police, Solapur district.Shiv Sena drops cryptic hintThe Shiv Sena in an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana said, “In a way, he took the saffron pataka (flag) on his shoulder. The new procession of Advocate Ambedkar and his VBA must welcome if they are heading in the direction of Hindutva.”Further, it added that it is right that people have made such a demand, but they are also aware of the prevailing health crisis in the state and Warkaris must be mindful of this. It said nobody declared earlier that temples not be reopened. The Maha Vikas Aghadi Government in the state has only maintained that it is not the right time to reopen temples.The BJP last week staged a protest, demanding the reopening of temples in the state, while Ambedkar did so on Monday.It is pure coincidence that the two demonstrations are linked. There does not seem to be any substance in the often made allegation of a “tacit understanding” between Ambedkar and the BJP.(With PTI inputs)