Thackeray memorial row: BMC serves ultimatum on Sena leaders

Mumbai's civic body has served an ultimatum on Mayor Sunil Prabhu and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut to remove the makeshift memorial of Sena supremo Bal Thackeray from Shivaji Park immediately or face legal consequences.

The notices to the two Sena leaders were served by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) last night, civic officials said on Tuesday.

"The purpose for which the site was alloted (for Thackeray's cremation) is over. Therefore, we have asked both Prabhu and Raut to remove the structure immediately or face legal consequences," Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte told PTI.

The move by the civic authority came days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said the state government would not do anything in violation of the law with regard to Sena's demand to set up a memorial at the spot as the matter with regard to Shivaji Park, which has been declared as a silence zone, is pending in High Court.

The 86-year-old Sena chief was cremated on November 18 at Shivaji Park in Dadar, the same ground where he had addressed his followers during Dussehra rallies for over 40 years and the party is keen to have a memorial erected in his memory there.

Last week, Sena had equated the edifice where Thackeray's last rites were conducted to Ayodhya.

"The sanctity of the place should be maintained. It is like a temple for us and we won't remove the structure that has come up at the cremation site," Raut had told reporters.

He had also asked the government and court not to intervene in the issue.

Senior party leader Manohar Joshi first made the demand for the memorial of Bal Thackeray at the site, soon after the Sena supremo was cremated.

While government is of the view that it is a recreation ground, the court says it is a playground in which case no construction will be possible there, Chavan had said.

The state Congress unit is also opposed to any other memorial coming up at Shivaji park.

"Shivaji Maharaj is a god for people of Maharashtra. His memorial is already there at Shivaji Park," according to MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre.