Wife of the late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Meenatai Thackeray, who passed away in 1995, is revered by Shiv Sena workers, and her statue has stood at Shivaji Park for several years.
File Photo: IANS
The Mumbai Police stated on Wednesday that tension has mounted 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.
Wife of the late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Meenatai Thackeray, who passed away in 1995, is revered by Shiv Sena workers, and her statue has stood at 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 Shiv Sena, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, as well as the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
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According to 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, adding that the police are examining footage from other CCTV cameras in the area to nab the culprit.
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The police said if the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena does not file a formal complaint, they will initiate a suo motu action on their own. “We are examining footage from multiple cameras in the vicinity,” a senior police officer said.
As soon as news about the incident spread, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena leaders and workers rushed to the spot, and party workers Chandrakant Jhagde and Ajit Kadam cleaned the statue, even as several Shiv Sena workers gathered at the site.
According to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, party chief Uddhav Thackeray, who is the son of the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Meenatai Thackeray, is likely to visit the spot.
Incidents of protests have been reported from outside Mumbai as well, and workers of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena have announced that they will hold demonstrations condemning the desecration of the late Meenatai Thackeray’s statue at Shivaji Park, in Dadar West.
After information about the incident was received, local MLA Mahesh Sawant and Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena leader MP Anil Desai reached the spot.
Desai condemned the act, calling it “a 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,” Desai 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 anti-social 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. We have cleaned the area. 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,” Desai said.
Uddhav-led Shiv 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 are the police doing?”.
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