On Thursday, on the eve of the 11th anniversary of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray’s death, there were clashes between the two factions of the Shiv Sena at his monument at Dadar’s Shivaji Park ground.
Workers of the Shiv Sena UBT party started chanting and shouting against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who had gone to the Thackeray monument to pay respects, which sparked the confrontations. As soon as party workers from both sides confronted one another, they began exchanging slogans, which sparked a brawl at the location.
Supporters of Uddhav Thackeray chanted “traitors go back” while Shiv Sena members yelled that the party is theirs.
The head of the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, Sheetal Mhatre, stated: “Shiv Sena UBT party workers created chaos which later turned into a scuffle when Eknath Shinde was paying tribute at the memorial.” They heckled our female party workers today even though the CM and I had gone to pay our respects. On the anniversary of Balasaheb’s passing, we had no intention of causing any problems with law and order.
“The way Shiv Sena UBT workers have vandalized the poles at the memorial shows how much respect they have in their minds for Balasaheb,” said Kiran Pawaskar, another prominent member of the Shinde faction.
Anil Desai, the Rajya Sabha MP and head of the Shiv Sena UBT, and Anil Parab, the former cabinet minister, were seen managing their party members at the monument. Additionally, the pair was seen soothing the irate partygoers who were yelling anti-Shinde Faction chants.
Desai stated in a statement to the media, “We come here on November 17 every year to pay tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray.” We have honored this day in a very calm manner, and on Friday we will continue to do so. Dramatists who just want to perform will not be permitted to do so. We ask that the police leave the area since these individuals entered the monument and lingered after making their tributes.
Police had to step in to keep the peace as the groups battled, and they asked the Shinde faction to work with them to keep things under control.
Speaking to the media, Eknath Shinde declared: “It is everyone’s duty to maintain law and order.” To make sure there is no law and order issue, I pay my respects at the Thackeray monument one day early. I reject the effort to sabotage harmony. Leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Anil Desai and Anil Parab, arrived with followers after I departed and yelled insults at me. An needless effort was made to disturb the tranquility.