Thaindian News

Mumbai, Dec 7 (IANS) In an indirect attack at Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray Wednesday questioned how people who had demanded relaxation of norms for cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar’s dream bungalow were now criticising singers Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle over the Peddar Road flyover issue.

“All citizens are equal before the law. But some people demanded extra FSI (floor space index) for Sachin Tendulkar’s bungalow even though it did not fit into the government’s rules,” Uddhav said in a statement here, without naming his estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, who had made such a demand.

Uddhav also took umbrage at “these people” for criticizing national icons from the state like Lata, Asha and Sachin and tarnishing their image before the world.

“These icons have brought name, fame and honour to the country’s sports and culture arena on the world stage and at least politicians from Maharashtra should refrain from spoiling their name,” he said, urging an end to this muck-raking against these icons.

Uddhav’s statement came in response to Raj Thackeray’s criticism of Lata and Asha whose opposition has delayed the much-awaited Peddar Road flyover in south Mumbai to end traffic snarls.

The MNS chief had warned that unless the government constructs a flyover on Peddar Road, his party would not permit the construct work of any other flyover in the city or the state.

His stance came following the state government’s plans to drop the flyover at Peddar Road and instead compensate by constructing two flyovers nearby - one at Haji Ali junction and another at Cadbury Company junction, both in the vicinity.

A high-level delegation including top office-bearers of the party, its women’s wing, legislators and others met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Tuesday and urged him to initiate steps to construct the long-pending Peddar Road flyover.

Playing safe, Chavan said that “no final decision” has been taken on the issue so far.