The BMC has denied permission to Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackrey and Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde factions for the Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park. The decision was taken after a report sent by the Mumbai police saying that a law and order situation might arise if permission is granted to any one applicant to conduct a rally on October 5.
Thackeray faction of Sena submitted a plea before the court on September 21.
A letter regarding the same was sent by the deputy municipal commissioner zone 2 to Dadar MLA Sada Sarvankar and Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai on Thursday.
According to a report sent by the police, "Allowing a rally in an already tense Dadar area can lead to a serious law and order situation. So as a precautionary measure, permission to both the factions has been denied, stated the BMC in its letter."
"After an incident of firing was reported on September 9, local police do not want to take the risk of disturbing the law and order situation in the Dadar area. Since the police department has submitted its report, there is no need for any legal opinion from the BMC's law department," said the senior civic official.
Meanwhile, Ramakant Biradar, DMC zone 2, confirmed denying permission to both factions based on this law and order assessment. The civic body's decision has upset the Thackrey faction and has approached the Bombay High Court.
Former Mayor and senior Shiv Sena leader Milind Vaidya said, "Another group has already been given permission to conduct a rally at Bandra- Kurla Complex, and they have also paid the deposit. If they are conducting a rally at BKC, then how can a question of law and order arise at Shivaji Park? This has been purposely done by the State Government to stop Shiv Sena from conducting a rally at Shivaji Park".
Shinde-faction MLA Sada Sarvankar said, "Our Shinde Saheb will decide what to do further".
The Uddhav Thackrey faction had applied for permission to hold the rally on August 22, while the Shinde faction filed an application on August 30. Since the BMC was sitting on the applications for a month, a Shiv Sena delegation met officials of the BMC’s G-North ward on Tuesday. Ever since, the party’s formation in 1966, the Shiv Sena has conducted a Dussehra rally at the Shivaji Park ground.
