Mumbai, Jan 10 (NationPress) Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray visited the first phase of the Balasaheb Thackeray memorial located at the Mayor’s Bungalow in Dadar on Friday and expressed that he does not wish to enter into a credit dispute concerning its development.
"All those who have retained the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray are welcome here," he remarked.
This statement indirectly referenced former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and others who, after the rebellion in June 2022, allied with the BJP-led MahaYuti government in Maharashtra.
Accompanied by former minister Subhash Desai, Thackeray stated, "Balasaheb provided many blessings to many individuals. For those who received nothing from him, they should at least extract something meaningful from the memorial."
He highlighted that the memorial holds national significance, saying, "Whoever is the Prime Minister at the time of its completion should be invited for the inauguration."
"The first phase of the Balasaheb Thackeray memorial is finished, and the second phase has commenced. Discussions regarding this have been ongoing for several years. I extend my gratitude to architect Abha Lamba and Tata Project. The work looks impressive now, but it posed significant challenges. An intriguing coincidence is that Veer Savarkar's memorial is located adjacent to this site. We have developed a deep emotional connection to the Mayor's Bungalow building," Thackeray added.
He further noted that the Mayor's Bungalow is a heritage site, and it was essential to ensure that the building's grandeur was preserved during renovations.
"There were also challenges posed by the CRZ law. Abha Lamba suggested constructing an underground memorial due to the sea level being higher than ground level. This task was accomplished by accepting that challenge. It was vital to ensure safety during construction, and I appreciate Abha Lamba for that," he remarked.
Thackeray, who is emotionally invested in the memorial's development, asserted that four walls and a statue do not constitute a memorial.
"I am curious about what will unfold in phase two. It should progress. Our vision is to convey his philosophies through the memorial. The biography of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray is embedded within the memorial. Balasaheb never penned an autobiography; when asked, he would say he was a man of action, and his life was an open book. The memorial should embody the ideals he imparted to his country and state," he stated.
Uddhav expressed hope that the memorial would be inaugurated before the celebration of Balasaheb Thackeray’s birth centenary on January 23, 2026.
"The Shiv Sena chief transformed Maharashtra during his lifetime. If you possess old photographs, speeches, or articles, please share them with us, as they will serve as valuable resources for future generations," he appealed to the public.
