The Raj Thackeray-led MNS has joined the Opposition Congressand NCP in taking on the ruling Shiv Sena in the Brihanmumbai MunicipalCorporation (BMC) over the latter’s proposal to rename the historic ShivajiPark as “Shiv Theerth”.
At a time when its workers are laying a siege to the BalThackeray cremation site at the Shivaji Park, the Shiv Sena unleashed a freshcontroversy seeking to rename the historic ground in north-central Mumbai as“Shiv Theerth”.
As it prepared to push through the renaming proposal in theBMC, MNS’ group leader Dilip Lande expressed serious reservations about theproposal and demanded to know the reason for renaming the ground as “ShivTheerth”. “The ground has already beennamed after Marathi warrior Chhatrapathi Shivaji. What’s the rationale behindchanging Shivaji Park’s name now?” Lande asked.
“Being a historic ground, Shivaji Park has seen severalpolitical movements over the years. We are opposed to any effort by the ShivSena to rename the ground as Shiv Theerth. The Shiv Sena has been in power inthe BMC for the last 17 years. What has it done for Mumbai? Is the Sena tryingto do some development work by renaming Shivaji Park as Shiv Theerth. Tell me,how will the move help Mumbaikars?” Lande wondered aloud.
Justifying the renaming proposal, Mumbai Mayor Sunil Prabhuof the Shiv Sena said: “Renaming the ground as Shiv Theeth is an oldproposal. What we are doing is to removethe English word Park from Shivaji Park and name it as Shiv Theerth. Even thenew name will have its roots in the memory of Chhatrapati Shivaji. In hispublic addresses, late Balasaheb used to always refer the Shivaji Park as ShivTheerth. That’s one of the reasons for our proposing to change the name”.
The Shiv Sena is confident that its alliance partner, BJP,would support its renaming proposal. However, the BJP has chosen to buy time bysaying that most of its corporators are away in Assembly poll-bound Gujarat andthat it would take a decision in this regard at a later stage.
Way back in 1927, the British rulers in the erstwhile BombayState had changed the name of the then Mahim Park and renamed it as ShivajiPark on the occasion of 300th birth anniversary of the Maratha warrior. The ground has since then been known asShivaji Park.
