Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi has demanded that a memorial to party chief Bal Thackeray be built and installed at his cremation venue, the Shivaji Park, next to the memorial to Chhattrapati Shivaji.
Shiv Sainiks asks government to make the memorial even if it is against the law.
Sanjay Raut said that shiv sianiks will decide on memorial.
But Maharashtra government is strict towards making the memorial. However, Raj Thackeray said that the memorial should be made on the land of Indu Mill and not at Shivaji Park.
As of now numerous people are visiting Shivaji Park to pay their homage to Bal Thackeray where he was cremated.
Trade associations in Mumbai and Maharashtra called for a voluntary shutdown Monday as a mark of respect for Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray, who passed away Saturday afternoon.
A statement by the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM) called upon the trading community to observe the shutdown and observe ‘Shraddhanjali Day’ Monday. The retails and wholesale jewellery market – Zaveri Bazar – and all other jewellery units will also remain shut Monday. All educational institutions, including schools and colleges, were also closed on Monday owing to the call given by various bus owners’ associations of the city and state.
Over 5,000 anxious Shiv Sainiks from Mumbai, Thane and other parts of the state trooped to Bandra east awaiting a word on their beloved leader’s health, Bal Thackeray, last night. The 86-year-old Thackeray has been suffering from breathing problems and has been occasionally put on oxygen.
All roads leading to ‘Matoshree’ were also barricaded and even some party leaders had to abandon their vehicles near the Western Express Highway and walk the short route to the Thackeray household.
Balasaheb’s son and Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray, his nephew and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, and other relatives were at his bedside. Shiv Sainiks, including senior Sena leaders Manohar Joshi, Sanjay Raut and Subhash Desai, made a beeline to Matoshree on learning about the Sena chief’s health.
The Shiv Sainiks were there from 8pm to 2am. Uddhav stepped outside the Thackeray home ‘Matoshri’ briefly around 2am to address the massive crowd of anxious party activists who gathered there since late Wednesday.
Accompanied by son Aditya, Uddhav appealed to the people to “remain calm and maintain peace” and ensure that the image of ‘Matoshri’ is not spoiled.
“The team of doctors is continuing their efforts….Balasaheb’s self-determination is very strong. We are facing a crisis, we shall overcome,” Uddhav assured his supporters.
Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan also reached Motoshree by 12:30 am. Due to the huge crowd over there they even sustained a bit of cuts. Apart from these many other leaders, actors and other prominent personalities reached Matoshree to see Bal Thackeray.
Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said the Thackeray family itself belonged to Bihar and had settled in Dhar in Western Madhya Pradesh from where they migrated to Mumbai. Digvijay said “If you look at the history of Mumbai, then it is a city of fishermen. Rest all have settled there from outside.”
He said that he had a book written by Prabodhankar Thackeray, grandfather of Uddhav Thackeray, and it is written in the book that the Thackeray’s hails from Bihar.
To this, executive president of the Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray said that, “What my grandfather has written does not refer to my family, but to the entire Thakre community which lives in Bihar,”
Uddhav Thackeray went on to say that Digvijay is a ‘madman’ and that ‘he was busy washing dishes for and Italian’ hence he has lost ability to think’.
For the first time Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray joined in his cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray in the latter’s hate campaign against the people from Bihar. Uddhav said that a permit system should be implemented for Biharis who want to live in Mumbai. He said that if the Mumbai police need Bihar govt’s permission to act then we should implement the permit system.
On his hate speech various political leaders reacted.
Former Union minister and BJP leader C.P.Thakur said, “Whatever the Thackerays are doing is wrong… Be it a Bihari, Maharashtrian, Punjabi, everyone has a right to go and work at whichever place they want. One cannot draw lines like this.”
RJD leader Ram Kirpal Yadav said, “I think that Raj Thackeray, his uncle Bal Thackeray and brother Uddhav Thackeray have lost their mental balance. I am also surprised that the state and central governments are not taking any strict action against the Thackerays. No one has the right to make such statements.”
JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, “The Thackerays only make inflammatory speeches and try to disturb the social balance in the nation. The Maharashtra and central governments are producing another Bhindranwale in this country.”
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has threatened to disrupt Sur-Kshetra, a music show in which eight vocalists from Pakistan and an equal number of Indian singers are scheduled to participate.
Chief of the Chitrapat Karmachari Sena, Ameya Khopkar said “Pakistan has been inflicting injuries on India by plotting terrorist attacks. There is no need to undertake such a show on TV. If the show goes on air, we will deal with the situation in a manner befitting the MNS”.
Filmmaker Boney Kapoor, a board director of channel which is producing the show, said: “That is not for me to decide. I will have a meeting with the board members and then we will take a stand on it.”
On Tuesday MNS Chief, Raj Thackeray ask people of Maharashtra to stop giving toll tax unless the government explained where the money went, prompting MNS workers to vandalize several toll booths outside Mumbai. He claimed that the expense of building Mumbai-Pune Express Highway and Old Highway is already collected back.
According to him, 1.75 crore is collected from Mumbai-Pune Highway per day and Rs. 45 lakh from old highway is collected everyday.
He asked the government to clarify as to what facilities were the people getting by paying toll.
MNS Chief, Raj Thackeray blames Maharashtra Government’s and alleged that there was lack of transparency in the process.
He said that the toll collection policy is faulty and he also demands that the state should be toll-free.
Additionally, Anna Hazare also supports Raj Thackeray’s fight against toll tax.
Mumbai shuts down to mourn demise of Bal Thackeray
20 Nov 2012 Leave a Comment
Trade associations in Mumbai and Maharashtra called for a voluntary shutdown Monday as a mark of respect for Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray, who passed away Saturday afternoon.
A statement by the Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM) called upon the trading community to observe the shutdown and observe ‘Shraddhanjali Day’ Monday. The retails and wholesale jewellery market – Zaveri Bazar – and all other jewellery units will also remain shut Monday. All educational institutions, including schools and colleges, were also closed on Monday owing to the call given by various bus owners’ associations of the city and state.
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