On the first death anniversary of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, his estranged son Jaidev stirred a hornet’s nest by opposing the construction of a memorial for his father at Shivaji Park. “Let it (Shivaji Park) stay as a ground,” he said on Sunday, pointing out how open spaces in Mumbai had been appropriated by builders.
Jaidev also opposed demands for a Thackeray memorial on the land housing the iconic Mahalaxmi race course. Incidentally, Sena president Uddhav Jaidev’s younger brother made a strong pitch for the race course ground to be developed into a public garden which would be the “ninth wonder of the world”.
“There is no need to appropriate the race course. It must stay there. Just because the lease is over, must it be eaten up?” asked Jaidev. “If an international garden is developed on the race course... will the common man be able to go there?” he questioned, pointing out that ticket and membership rates could be steep.
He suggested that the land neighboring the mayor’s bungalow in Dadar be used for the memorial.
Thackeray’s estranged son said Sena leaders who profited from their association with his father should contribute money to purchase the land and use it for the memorial.
Not the one to mince words, Jaidev also announced his plans to form an organisaion to espouse the cause of the Marathi manoos and disgruntled Shiv Sainiks. He, however, said he would not join politics immediately. “I am planning to implement the programme which will be announced soon. I have overcome my initial negative stance (regarding joining politics)... I had to dispel it,” said Jaidev, who is separated from wife Smita.
“Many of saheb’s dreams are unfulfilled. What did saheb want to do and what is being done? I was keeping quiet, but now things have gone beyond my tolerance,” said Jaidev, who was reportedly flirting with the idea of joining the NCP a few years ago.
Jaidev Bal Thackeray’s second son claimed he had put forth a proposal about creating two posts of executive presidents one for the rural areas for Uddhav and the urban areas for his cousin Raj, who split from the Sena to form the MNS. The proposal, he claims, was accepted by Bal Thackeray. However, one of the cousins refused to compromise, Jaidev said without taking names. He clarified that he would not mediate between Raj and Uddhav.
Thackeray’s estranged son stays a stone’s throw away from Matoshree in Bandra and is said to have a passion for wood carving and electronics. Jaidev had reportedly patched up with his father and was also seen at Thackeray’s funeral last year. He was accused by the opposition of hunting a deer in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park during the reign of the erstwhile Sena-BJP government.
Despite Jaidev’s opposition to the memorial, many Shiv Sainiks on Sunday visited Shivaji Park where Thackeray was cremated last year. “If Mumbai is in Maharashtra, it is because of saheb. All must bear this is mind,” said Jitendra Mahulkar, a Shiv Sainik from Navi Mumbai.
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