Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai: The war between the two factions of the Shiv Sena took a new turn when an FIR was lodged against former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya for inaugurating the Delisle Bridge in Lower Parel area of Mumbai without permission.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has slammed the Eknath Shinde-led BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP dispensation.
The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has filed a complaint at the NM Joshi police station alleging that Aaditya had illegally inaugurated the bridge even though the construction is yet to be complete.
After which, the police lodged an FIR against Aaditya, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA and his party workers.
“The police are acting under pressure (of the government),” Aaditya said, adding: “We inaugurated the bridge for the general public, as was long pending. Surprisingly, an FIR has been filed against me. I find it amusing considering I am the local MLA. Is it not within my purview to inspect and inaugurate a bridge?”.
In a post on X, he said: “The full bridge to people for use, it has been almost 10 days that the other side has been ready and waiting for a VIP to inaugurate it. We inaugurated it last night and today, the BMC under the pressure of Khoke Sarkar has closed it down again, waiting for a government inauguration, only to trouble the citizens of Mumbai. Why can’t it be thrown open for the people instead of waiting for the guardian minister’s ego and convenience? Open it!”.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi said: “The police registered an FIR against Aaditya for doing something that the illegitimate and corrupt government should have done long ago. There is a bridge that has been long-pending and long-delayed in terms of construction. It has caused a lot of problems and inconvenience for the people of Mumbai.”
According to her, the bridge has been ready for weeks, but they are not allowing people to move simply because they want a VIP to inaugurate it. “He worked for the people, opened the ready bridge, and said traffic movement should be allowed here,” she said.
Meanwhile, Shinde-led Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) and Aaditya. “Emolished as dangerous bridges, Karnak bridge at Masjid Bandar, Hancock Bridge at Sandhurst Road, Delisle Road Bridge at Lower Paral, Farere Bridge at Charni Road, Gokhale Bridge, Bridge connecting Juhu-Versova Road to CD Barfiwala Road at JVPD Junction, Mithi Chowki Junction at Malad Link Road, Senapati Bapat are some of the bridges commissioned by BMC which was directly under the control of Aditya Thackeray. It has taken more than five years and the bridges are still not ready. The work on the third flyover connecting Fisherman's Colony to Western Express Highway along the route, as well as several bridges like Reay Road Bridge, Ghatkopar Bridge, Matunga Bridge, Chinchpokli Bridge and Mahalakshmi Bridge are still pending. Aditya Thackeray’s politics lacks a development core,” she said.