Memorial or Matoshree 3? MNS questions Sena on Balasaheb’s Memorial Day

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena general secretary Sandeep Deshpande has criticized the work of the memorial of late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray which has been going on very slowly for the last 3 years. Some people have also expressed displeasure on social media.

Eight years have passed since the death of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. However, the memorial of Balasaheb could not remain standing during this period. The site of the mayor’s bungalow in Mumbai was to be handed over to Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray’s National Memorial Committee for Balasaheb’s memorial. Also in 2019, the groundbreaking ceremony of the memorial was held in the presence of the then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray. However, the work could not move forward after that.

Shiv Sainiks from all over the state visit to the memorial at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park to pay tribute to the late Balasaheb Thackeray. After paying tribute at Shiv Tirtha (Shivaji Park), their footsteps turn towards the nearby memorial site.

Criticizing this, Sandeep Deshpande said, “only space has been allocated for the planned memorial of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray at Shivaji Park. But why no memorial has been erected at that place yet ?”

Speaking to a news channel, Sandeep Deshpande said, “it has been 3 years since the mayor bungalow is shifted and allocated for the memorial, but the bungalow is still closed. When of January 23 or November 17 approaches, tenders are issued for the work of the memorial and it is been said the work is in progress, that's all we get to see.”

“If there is a memorial Balasaheb Thackeray, then why is it closed? Why isn't it open to the public? Why can't the people go there? Why is it used as if it is someone's private property?” such questions have also been asked by Sandeep Deshpande.

Memorial will be built on the place of the mayor's bungalow at Shivaji Park. As a result, the mayor's bungalow was vacated and has been shifted to Veer Jijamata Udyan in Byculla. Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) had passed the tender for this planned memorial. However, the initial phase of the monument is expected to cost Rs 87 crore.