RSS says Thackeray memorial disrupting shakha, seeks alternative plot at Shivaji Park
India Today
The RSS has asked for an alternative plot to operate its branch, claiming that the organisation’s activities are disrupted due to the memorial of Bal Thackeray at Shivaji Park.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) asking for an alternate plot to operate its branch citing difficulties in the outfit’s shakha due to the memorial of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.
In a letter, RSS said that they are facing difficulties in carrying out programmes and activities on the land next to the memorial. For this reason, they should be given alternative plots near Nana Nani park in the same area.
The RSS mentioned that the civic body had allotted a 1,755-square-metre plot at Shivaji Park, near the area where Thackeray’s memorial now stands, to the organisation in 1967.
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The organisation said it was paying rent for the land, allotted under a ‘Vacant Land Tenancy’ model, till 2007. The rent collection was halted in 2007 as the BMC wanted to map the area, a task that remains incomplete, the RSS said in the letter.
“We are ready to pay this rent. Also, we had repeatedly approached the Administrative Officer (Property) G / North Division to pay the rent, but he was unable to accept it,” the letter added.
The RSS has now urged the BMC to complete the land-mapping exercise and give the organisation an alternative plot of equal area so that the organisation’s activities are not disrupted.
