Even Rane has her photo in his office

It’s been 17 years that Chhagan Bhujbal, now a PWD minister from Congress, quit Shiv Sena in a stormy defection in during the 1989 winter session of the state assembly. But even today, a picture of Meenatai, late wife of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, prominently rests on his study table.

Ditto Rane. The Revenue minister cut his umbilical cord with the party last year. But his respect for ‘Maasaheb’ Meenatai remains. “She was a good human being.” Meenatai was far removed from the boardroom meetings of the Thackerays. Her image — both when she was alive and after she passed away at 64 — was that of a warm and caring persona.

To thousands of Sainiks, Meenatai was a mother. They recall her as a simple housewife who would ever smiling welcome one and all with a home made cuppa. Ironically, the desecration of Meena Thackeray’s statue at Shivaji Park on Sunday morning has taken a political hue with both opposition and ruling parties out to gain political mileage.

Congress leader Hussain Dalwai said, “Politicians have often targeted statues to stoke communal passions. We have seen several clashes between Hindus and Muslims, and Hindus and Dalits over desecration of Ambedkar or Shivaji statues.”

The one at Ramabai Nagar in Ghatkopar, where a statue of Ambedkar was garlanded with shoes led to bloody riots in Mumbai. Ramdas Athavale of the RPI (A) said, “We have often become the victims of the BJP-RSS-Shiv Sena’s politics in the past.”

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said, “We oppose the politics of desecration. But thousands of activists across the party lines have been hurt by today’s incident.”

In a telling statement, SP leader Abu Azmi dismissed the charge. But warned, “Int ka jawaab pathaar se denge” (We will hit back).