The Congress on Tuesday alleged that the Shiv Sena is trying to create only an emotional plank by demanding a theme park in place of the racecourse. The party pointed out that the Shiv Sena has not created any landmark in Mumbai despite being in power in the BMC for the past 40 years.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had met chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Sunday regarding his party’s demand to set up a park of international standard on the land currently being used for the racecourse. A presentation was made before the CM regarding the Sena’s proposal.
“The CM will take appropriate decision regarding the lease of the racecourse and what to do with the racecourse land. It is the state government’s prerogative. But the Shiv Sena is doing what it has always done, that is playing the emotional card with the people. The Shiv Sena should explain as to how many landmarks they have created on lands belonging to the BMC. Its contribution towards making Mumbai a world-class city is zero. Therefore, there is a doubt over their intentions behind demanding a theme park in place of the racecourse,” Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said.
The Congress spokesperson further said that it is a clear attempt by the Sena to create an emotional issue. “The government is yet to take any decision regarding the lease of the racecourse. But before that, the Sena has even prepared the plan of the theme park,” he said.
The Shiv Sena has demanded that a public garden be built on the racecourse land at Mahalaxmi as the 99-year lease of Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC), which maintains the Mahalaxmi racecourse, expired on May 31. The Sena has prepared a proposal to have an “international standard theme park” on the lines of London’s Hyde Park.
The CM has assured Uddhav Thackeray that any decision regarding the racecourse land will be taken after consensus from all the concerned parties.
The Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI controlled BMC owns 2.5 lakh square metres of the Mahalaxmi racecourse land, while the state owns the rest. The racecourse is a vital green lung in the heart of the island city.