Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray visited the Shivaji Park where unidentified elements threw red paint at the statue of his late mother, Meenatai Thackeray on Wednesday morning and condemned the desecration of the vandalism.
Talking to media persons after the visit to the Shivaji Park in Dadar West, the Shiv Sena chief described the desecration of the statue of his mother as highly condemnable, could have been done “to set Maharashtra on fire”.
Wife of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Meenatai Thackeray, who passed away in 1995, is revered by Shiv Sena workers. Her statue has been standing at the Shivaji Park for several years. She is still considered an inspirational and maternal figure, revered as “Mai Saheb” by Shiv Sainiks of the Uddhav-led Sena, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena as well as the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
“There are two types of people who can do this. The first type could be unscrupulous people who are ashamed to mention their parents’ names. The second type could be like the unsuccessful attempt made to shut down Bihar after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother was insulted. Similarly, the aim of doing all this could be an attempt to set Maharashtra on fire. We have asked everyone to remain calm. The police are searching for the accused. The police said that they will find the accused. We will see what happens next,” Uddhav Thackeray said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray also reached the venue where the statue of Meenatai Thackeray stands and inquired about it on Wednesday afternoon. HE also inquired about the incident from the policemen present at the time. “Are the CCTVs running?” Raj Thackeray asked the cops. He told the police to check all CCTVs and find the accused within 24 hours.
The Mumbai Police said there was tension after some unidentified person allegedly defaced the statue of the late Meenatai Thackeray, at Shivaji Park located in Dadar West, by throwing red colour over it.
According to the police, the incident is believed to have occurred between 6.10 am and 6.30 am because CCTV footage until 6.10 am did not show any unusual activity. They said that the footage from other CCTV cameras in the area is being scanned to track down the culprits.
Earlier on Wednesday, the police said even if the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena does not file a formal complaint, they will initiate suo motu action in the case. “We are examining the footage from multiple cameras in the vicinity,” a senior police officer said.
As soon as news about the incident spread, leaders and workers of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena rushed to the spot while party workers Chandrakant Jhagde and Ajit Kadam cleaned the statue even as several others gathered at the Dadar West Shivaji Park venue where the statue stands.
The incident led to protests outside Mumbai as well with party workers announcing that they will hold demonstrations against the attempt to desecrate the late Meenatai Thackeray’s statue.
Soon after receiving the information about the incident, local MLA Mahesh Sawant and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena leader, MP Anil Desai, reached the spot.
Condemning the act, Anil Desai called it “the result of the government’s failure”. “These are acts of cowards. This government is busy with other programmes while Mumbai’s safety is being compromised. This is not just an attack on a statue, but a reflection of the state’s indifference,” he said.
Speaking to media persons, Desai said, “Some miscreants have thrown paint on the statue. Perhaps these cowards have not been disciplined. The police are searching for them. What is the police system doing after seeing such incidents? What is the government doing? These questions arise. These incidents are beyond condemnation. It seems that the government is failing to maintain law and order”.
“We have informed Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray about this incident. We are handling this incident in our own way. Such antisocial elements and cowards will be given a befitting reply. The police are searching for them. They are checking the footage of the CCTV cameras around the statue. Seeing such incidents, one feels again and again that Mumbai is not safe. What are the police doing while these incidents are happening? The government is busy with its own misdeeds,” Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai said.
Another Uddhav Sena leader, Vishakha Raut said, “Everything was fine till 6 am. Then someone painted the statue. Our workers have wiped off the paint, but the question is, what is the police doing”.