Aditya Thackeray calls Shinde government ‘Khoke Sarkar’ over shifting of Mahalaxmi Race Course; BJP’s sharp reply

Shiv Sena leader and former CM Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on the Eknath Shinde government over the proposal to build a theme park at Mahalaxmi Race Course, calling it a “Khoke Sarkar” which serves the commercial interests of builders. Yes, not for Mumbaikars. ,

Pointing out that the Mahalaxmi Race Course is an integral urban open space of Mumbai and a part of every Mumbaikar’s life, the former minister said the current dispensation seeks to sell the race course to commercial interests who want to monetise the city. Thackeray’s “Khoke (crore in Marathi) government” sarcasm has intensified as verbal attacks between the Uddhav Sena and the Eknath faction-BJP escalate ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

“Mahalakshmi Racecourse is an integral urban open space of Mumbai and part of every Mumbaikar’s life. Uddhav Thackeray proposed a park like “The Hyde Park” where everyone has a green open space without any construction The Racecourse also holds heritage within it. The idea was to create an urban green space for children, elders, runners, yoga lovers, music lovers, artists and also pet and horse lovers. A free for all Open urban green park,” he tweeted.

“Now we read that the Khoke government wants to build a theme park. It is unfortunate that they want to destroy the open spaces of Mumbai. Like they want to sell Worli Dairy to builders, they want to sell Racecourse to commercial interests who want to monetize our city. We Mumbaikars want an urban green park for everyone and not a concrete commercial jungle from the pro-builder policies of the Khoke government. We also hear that there are commercial interests involved in Mulund’s proposed racecourse at taxpayer expense.

Ten years after the lease for the Mahalaxmi Race Course plot expired, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revived its plan to acquire the plot in Mumbai to build an amusement park, The Indian Express reported.

Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar hit back at the Thackeray scion, saying the race course is jointly owned by the state government and the BMC and assured that the state government would take a decision in the interest of Mumbaikars. He asked why the Uddhav Thackeray government and the BMC kept the Race Course lease pending since it expired in 2013.

“After using BMC as a private piggy bank and Mumbai’s contractor mafia presiding over the loot for 25 years. Now young leaders talking about open spaces! Youth misses open space after trying to grab Bandra Sealink Promenade open space for London Eye & Fancy project! Wow! Why did the Uddhav ji MVA government and BMC keep the race course lease pending after it expired in 2013? What was “settlement”? $$$ for pub/party lobby?”

“The racecourse is jointly owned by the state government and BMC! Assure everyone that our Balasahebchi Sena/BJP government will take decisions in the interest of Mumbaikars! And not in favor of private contractor. Like Uddhav ji government did at Kanjur Metro Depot Land Scam! We have demanded that a carbon neutral international standard open space with best aesthetics and greenery be developed at the racecourse in consultation with Mumbaikars! & If BMC (under pressure from contractor lobby) deviates from this. Then we will protest will do!”

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