Rebutting NCP's objection to the epithet 'Hindu Hriday Samrat' in the name of a recently opened municipal hospital named after Bal Thackeray, Shiv Sena today said 'Maulana' in 'Maulana Abul Kalam Azad' too has religious association.
The newly constructed trauma care hospital in suburban Jogeshwari has been named 'Hindu Hriday Samraat Balasaheb Thackeray Hospital'. NCP yesterday objected to the use of the epithet (which means 'King of Hindu Hearts) in the hospital's name.
Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut defended the name, saying that people in the country had conferred this epithet on the late Sena supremo, Bal Thackeray.
If NCP was opposed to it because of religious association, then it should also oppose the use of the word 'Maulana' before Azad's name, Raut said.
"There are lots of schemes named after Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. So will his name will also be opposed?" he asked.
"We have no objection to the work done by Maulana Azad...but even his name is religious...in that case the name given to various schemes should also be removed."