This refers to the BJP-led Maharashtra Government’s decision to convert the Mayor’s official residence into a memorial of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. The decision has been taken for political requirements in view of the widening gap in the BJP-Shiv Sena relations. The Union Cabinet had in the year 2000, taken the wise decision of not converting any Government residence into memorials, which was followed by a Supreme Court verdict along the same lines.
There should be strict rules applicable to the States also, whereby public land and/or Government bungalows are allowed to be misused for memorials. Our super rich political parties can develop memorials for their mentors and departed leaders at their own expense rather than misusing public money for the purpose. It is significant that out of three wings of democracy, only those from the legislature are privileged to get memorials, while senior officials do not get even post-retirement Government accommodations.