Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray may skip Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally, to be held in the Sena chief’s backyard at the BKC grounds on Sunday. However, Thackeray is likely to attend the bhoomipujan of the Ambedkar memorial by Modi on the same day.
The bhoomipujan of the memorial, which will come up at Indu Mills, Dadar(W), has been long pending. Sources said Modi, accompanied by select VVIPs will perform the bhoomipujan at the Indu Mill premises late in the afternoon.
“Due to security reasons, selected VVIPs will get a chance to be on the dais; Thackeray may attend the bhoomipujan but may not attend the evening rally with the PM due to protocol issues,” said a senior BJP functionary. Rahul Shewale, Sena MP who represents South-Central Mumbai, Sada Sarvankar, the MLA from Dadar (W), and mayor Snehal Ambekar can share the dais with the PM as public representatives, said an official. “As the rally would be a government function and not a party event, everything will be according to protocol where Sena MLAs, MPs and ministers or even the mayor can fit in, but not the chief of a political party. So Uddhav would prefer not to attend the rally, instead of sitting in the audience,” he said. Sena spokesperson Arvind Bhonsle refused to comment on the issue.
Asked if an invitation has been sent to the Sena chief, social justice minister Rajkumar Badole said, “We are going to invite all and there is no political issue.”
About the over Rs 450-crore memorial, Badole said the height of the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar will be 150 feet. The memorial will comprise a stupa which will be 140 feet in height and 110 meters in circumference. An Ashoka Chakra will cover the memorial’s structure. Besides, there will be a meditation hall with a seating capacity of 13,000 people and a gallery named ‘Gallery of Struggle,’ depicting various events from Ambedkar’s life. Another gallery will portray his vision of India of the future. There will also be a ibrary admeasuring 50,000 sq ft, where over 100 children can have access to the best books in the world. The memorial will also have an auditorium.