Shiv Sena clears urn from Shivaji Park
19 Dec 2012 6:50 AM IST
Exactly a month after Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s death, his public cremation site from the historic Shivaji Park ground in central Mumbai was removed amidst tight security on early Tuesday, a party leader said.
‘Yes, today (Tuesday) early morning, we have removed the urn containing Balasaheb’s ashes and other things, and fully vacated the cremation site,’ senior party leader Rahul Shewale said.
About shifting them to an alternative location, Shewale said a decision on this would be taken later in consultation with top party leaders.
The clearing out was done amidst tight security at Shivaji Park around 2.30 a.m. in the presence of a few top party leaders, including city mayor Sunil Prabhu, Subhash Desai and Shewale.
The entire operation was carried out peacefully at the dead of the night though a group of Shiv Sainiks were assembled outside the 28-acre Shivaji Park precincts. The late Thackeray, who died 17 November, was accorded a state public funeral at Shivaji Park ground in south Mumbai.
However, after the cremation, the Shiv Sena was reluctant to vacate the premises and had demanded a memorial for the late leader at the spot. Later, the cremation site was virtually ‘converted’ into a pilgrimage site with an ‘eternal flame’, maintaining round-the-clock vigil.
‘Yes, today (Tuesday) early morning, we have removed the urn containing Balasaheb’s ashes and other things, and fully vacated the cremation site,’ senior party leader Rahul Shewale said.
About shifting them to an alternative location, Shewale said a decision on this would be taken later in consultation with top party leaders.
The clearing out was done amidst tight security at Shivaji Park around 2.30 a.m. in the presence of a few top party leaders, including city mayor Sunil Prabhu, Subhash Desai and Shewale.
The entire operation was carried out peacefully at the dead of the night though a group of Shiv Sainiks were assembled outside the 28-acre Shivaji Park precincts. The late Thackeray, who died 17 November, was accorded a state public funeral at Shivaji Park ground in south Mumbai.
However, after the cremation, the Shiv Sena was reluctant to vacate the premises and had demanded a memorial for the late leader at the spot. Later, the cremation site was virtually ‘converted’ into a pilgrimage site with an ‘eternal flame’, maintaining round-the-clock vigil.
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