After making strong demands to rename Shivaji Park as “Shiv Tirth”, Shiv Sena has now backtracked on the issue. The demand was only for the platform where Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray was cremated, the party has said.
Sena corporator and standing committee chairman in the BMC, Rahul Shewale had moved a notice of motion seeking to re-name Shivaji Park as Shiv Tirth. Late Sena supremo used this name to refer to the historic ground at Dadar.
However, his move met with stiff opposition from other parties like the MNS, Congress, NCP and the Samajwadi Party. Sena’s alliance partner BJP has also not taken a decision on this issue yet.
Taking a U-turn on the issue, Mr Shewale said, “My demand was only to name the platform where the last rites of Balasaheb Thackeray were performed as Shiv Tirth, not the entire park.”
Interestingly, while the BJP, Sena’s longest alliance partner, has not made its stand clear on renaming of Shivaji Park, its new ally Republican Party of India (RPI) has strongly supported the move to rename it as “Shiv Tirth”.
“We will support Sena’s demand and also want a makeshift memorial at Shivaji Park, where late Sena chief was cremated,” said Mr Athawale. “The issue should not be politicised and emotions of the people should be taken into consideration on this issue. Leaders from various political parties should come together and support the memorial for Balasaheb Thackeray,” he added.