Thackeray funeral permit was conditional: Chavan

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said Wednesday permission for funeral of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray at Shivaji Park in Dadar was "conditional".

"The fact that notices have been issued to the mayor and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut to remove the makeshift memorial means the process of action is on," he said.

He refused to say what his government would do if the makeshift structure was not removed. "You don't expect me to answer this question here."

On the proposed statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Arabian Sea, CM said the process to seek permission from the environment ministry was on.

Earlier, Chavan had said the state government would not do anything in violation of law with regard to the Sena demand for a memorial at Shivaji Park, a silence zone, as the matter was pending before the high court.

While the government is of the view that it is a recreation ground, the court says it is a playground where construction cannot be allowed.

Uddhav asks Sainiks to take on challenges

Asserting that he knew how to run Shiv Sena, founded by his father the late Bal Thackeray, party executive president Uddhav Thackeray appealed to sainiks Wednesday "to take on challenges lying ahead".

"We will strive to fulfil Balasaheb's dream of unfurling 'bhagva' (saffron) atop state assembly. We will fight for the cause of Marathi manoos and Hindutva," he told a rally of Shiv Sena workers from North Maharashtra here.

Uddhav is on a state tour even as party fights for the Shiv Sena patriarch's memorial at Shivaji Park, where he was cremated, in Mumbai.

Thousands of party workers, including women, from the region participated in the public meeting.

Uddhav, who recently said he could never claim the exalted title of 'Shiv Sena Pramukh' attributed to his father, said: "I was taught by Balasaheb how to run the party. I see my father in each and every Shiv Sainik. It's the time to take on the challenges lying ahead for us and not mourn over Balasaheb's demise."

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