DON’T DEMOLISH CIVIC GYMKHANA FOR THACKERAY MEMORIAL: RAJ

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday said his party will oppose any move to demolish the mayor’s bungalow to build a memorial for Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray or demolition of municipal gymkhana for the same project.

The municipal gymkhana is next to the mayor’s bungalow at Shivaji Park. The Sena has proposed taking over the gymkhana and use the land to build premises related to the memorial.

Raj Thackeray met Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Thursday and opposed any such move. Raj also objected to shifting the mayor out of the mayor’s bungalow, saying the BMC should have found land for the memorial elsewhere.

He said, “Bal Thackeray’s name is being used to ask a public figure of stature (mayor) to move out of his official residence, and to meet someone’s selfish demands. MNS will not allow the demolition of the mayor’s bungalow, under the pretext of building a memorial. It is impossible the civic body is unable to find land elsewhere, for a memorial for Balasaheb Thackeray himself.”

“They will also demolish an old gymkhana to build a new mayor’s bungalow. There will be no end to such demands, Tomorrow, they will ask for Raj Bhavan,” he added. Raj also said if the BMC did not evict hawkers from no-hawking zones such as railway stations, MNS would resort to protests.