Angry Shiv Sena mellows down; gives up claim on Shivaji Park

Mumbai, Dec 13: After expressing their anger against government for issuing notices for removal of Bal Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park, Shiv Sena seems to have mellowed down. Media reports suggest that "Shiv Sena is ready to give up the fight for Bal Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park and renaming the ground Shiv Tirth, if the state government provides it alternative land in Mumbai."

Sources say that Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had engaged in hectic negotiations with Shiv Sena leader and Bal Thackeray's son Uddhav Thackeray to end the row over Shivaji Park.

Now, Maharashtra government will provide alternative land in the heart of Mumbai to Shiv Sena for Bal Thackeray's memorial. Officials say that it is good that the issue has ended on a positive note, or else Shivaji Park row would have caused huge law and order problem in Mumbai.

A Sena MLA said, "Frankly speaking, both Thackeray memorial and renaming Shivaji Park were announced without much consultation in the party. Individual leaders became proactive hoping to galvanise the cadre on the emotive plank. But it backfired."

The issue took a violent turn on Monday night with some alleged Sainiks vandalising the ward office of BMC in Worli area.

All the while, when the issue of Thackeray memorial was building up, the Maharashtra government kept dillydallying. Only in the last one week, the government has taken a tough stand and issuing notices for removal of the memorial.

OneIndia News