Maharashtra Assembly clears amendment bill for Thackeray memorial

Mumbai: The BJP-led Maharashtra Government on Tuesday approved a bill in the Legislative Assembly, paving the way for construction of late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's memorial in the Mayor's bungalow in Shivaji Park in Mumbai.

The bill was approved in the absence of Sena ministers and MLAs.

Chandrakant Sonawane and Rajabhau Vaze were only two legislators of the Sena who were present in the House to support the bill when it was presented late evening.

The MLAs of the NCP, the BJP and the MNS backed the bill, which allows an amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act.

The bill was presented by the Minister of State for Urban Development Ranjit Patil.

With the amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, the BMC Commissioner is authorised to grant lease of the property along with the structures, with the sanction of the civic body and approval of the state government.

The lease of the property is for construction of Thackeray's memorial, which will be called as the "Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak".

A society for the purpose will be registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

The rent for the lease of property will be lesser than the market value of the premium as may be decided by the state government.

The Mayor's residence will be subsequently shifted to Byculla in South Mumbai.

Taking a dig, the NCP leader Dilip Walse Patil said the bill was being presented in absence of Sena ministers.

"You (BJP) wanted to control Mumbai, but have surrendered to Sena. The BJP has unilaterally given the city in hands of Sena after shouting for transparency. How will appointing the Upa-Lokayukta for Mumbai will bring transparency?" he asked.

His colleague Jayant Patil said the bill was deliberately presented late in the evening when the Sena ministers were absent.

"The BJP took many goons in the party to defeat Sena but in vain. Now they have not even taken into consideration the Sena before presenting the bill," he said.

Supporting the bill, the NCP leader said the memorial should be completed in a stipulated period.

The Mayor should be given another bungalow as the memorial will be housed in the existing one, he demanded.

BJP MLA Raj Purohit also supported the bill.

The Sena MLAs present in the House also welcomed the bill.

MNS MLA Sharad Sonawane also supported the bill after which it was approved.