Maharashtra Government is considering a demand made by the Shiv Sena leaders for a memorial for Bal Thackeray at Shivaji Park. Former chief minister and Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi had mooted the idea in honour of Bal Thackeray’s memory. Joshi suggested that Thackeray’s memorial could be constructed next to the Shivaji statue at the park.
Minister of state for urban development Bhaskar Jadhav said that despite Shivaji Park being a playground government gave permission for a public cremation, owing to the special relation that Thackeray shared with the ground.
He said that the state would consider the proposed memorial at Shivaji Park. He added that the state government is yet to receive a formal proposal from the Shiv Sena in this regard.
However, the proposal might face some resistance. Objections to constructing the memorial at the Park are being raised by a group called the Maidan Bachava Samiti (Save the Playground Committee).
Bhaskar Sawant, who leads the movement to conserve the city’s playgrounds, said that, although he had immense respect for Thackeray, his memorial should not be constructed on a playground. “In fact Thackeray on many occasions had praised our efforts in managing to conserve Shivaji Park,” added Sawant.
Meanwhile, Mumbai limped back to normalcy on Monday, as the Shiv Sena did not impose a bandh on Sunday to mourn the death of Bal Thackeray, as widely rumoured.