PM Modi pays homage to Bal Thackeray; Sena and MNS organise separate rallies
New Delhi/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid homage to Shiv Sena founder Late Balasaheb Thackeray and described him as a 'courageous and indomitable' man who continues to inspire millions.
"Tributes to the great Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti. Courageous and indomitable, he never hesitated from raising issues of public welfare," Mr Modi said in a tweet.
"He (Late Thackeray) always remained proud of Indian ethos and values. He continues to inspire millions," the Prime Minister wrote.
Tributes to the great Balasaheb Thackeray on his Jayanti. Courageous and indomitable, he never hesitated from raising issues of public welfare. He always remained proud of Indian ethos and values. He continues to inspire millions.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 23, 2020
Born on January 23, 1926, Sena founder and former supremo of his party breathed his last on November 17, 2012.
Meanwhile, in Mumbai lot of politics is on cards with regard Balasaheb Thackeray's birth anniversary as both Shiv Sena and MNS led by late Thackeray's nephew Raj Thackeray are observing the day with two separate rallies.
MNS will have a day-long party conclave at NESCO ground, Goregaon in the western suburbs.
Sources said MNS, which has released videos lately showing the map of Maharashtra in saffron colour, is likely to take a more pro-Hindutva stance coinciding with Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena taking a rather 'secular' stance after it formed alliance government with Congress and NCP.
There was also much talk about changing dynamics in Maharashtra politics when Raj Thackeray had met former Maharashtra Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.
Shiv Sena of Uddhav Thackeray has organised a mega rally at MMRDA Ground in Bandra-Kurla Complex and that will also celebrate 'fulfilling the promise' given to Balasaheb Thackeray that there will return of Sena chief minister.
Uddhav Thackeray became the third Sena Chief Minister after the party stitched an alliance with NCP and Congress as Shiv Sena parted ways from the BJP.
Earlier Manohor Joshi and Narayan Rane were two Sena Chief Ministers in 1990s.
Sena and its erstwhile ally BJP were out of power for sometime between 1999 and 2014 but in 2014 October when they returned to power, the BJP had bigger number and thus Fadnavis had become the Chief Minister.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.