MNS performs a Gudi Padwa rally at Shivaji Park, leaving a muddy mess in its wake

Last week, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena head Raj Thackeray addressed a rally in Shivaji Park, Dadar, on the occasion of Gudi Padwa. Hundreds of thousands of MNS workers from throughout Maharashtra have congregated to show their support for their leader. The guests did not believe in letting the grass grow under their feet, as it has been shown that about 30% of the turf in the park was destroyed during the process of preparing for the event, during the event itself, and in the clean-up that followed.

 

Heavy lorries were carried inside the earth to dump equipment before the event. In the centre of the ground, a stage was built. Party workers were seated in chairs. Parts of the ground appear uneven after the stage and chairs have been dismantled, leading nearby neighbours to be disappointed. The duty of repairing the damage has been taken on by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

"Some residents and local groups alerted me about the issue on WhatsApp," Assistant Municipal Commissioner of G north ward Kiran Dighavkar said. Following that, we began work on regenerating the grass. We'll get it fixed at the contractor's expense and make sure it's back to its original state. Our goal is to have a beautiful green lawn in time for the monsoon."

 

"Grass-growing work was in process." This is why we emphasized the hiring of a contractor to maintain the ground's grass cover. Such an occurrence would not happen again until the grass has fully grown since grass can withstand the weight," Dighavkar added. The BMC has decided to appoint an agency to maintain grass cover on the ground after receiving numerous complaints from homeowners over dust pollution from Shivaji Park. According to Dighavkar, a contractor will be paid Rs 3 crore to maintain the ground, including subsurface sprinklers and water lines, for three years.

 

"No political gatherings should be allowed at Shivaji Park," Meenal Vagal, a Shivaji Park resident, told The Free Press Journal. It isn't a political gathering spot. I am not opposed to any political party, but when they organize a rally in Shivaji Park, their buses and vehicles are parked on the road in a haphazard manner. Where should locals go? The ground is sometimes used as a cemetery. Someone has erected a monument. What exactly is going on? In Mumbai, I believe the government should prohibit the use of playgrounds for political objectives. The Bandra-Kurla Complex has a lot of room. Vehicles are permitted to be parked there. Rent should be collected from political parties because they do not pay rent for rallies."

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @RajThackerayFC