Bal Thackeray speak

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray described the Maharashtra state government’s proposal to erect a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the sea off Marine Drive here as “foolish’’. In an interview given to his party organ Saamna, he said there was already a statue of Shivaji near the Gateway which was close to the sea. His remarks came as a surprise considering that the Sena derives its inspiration from the Maratha warrior king. However, Sena chief executive Uddhav Thackeray clarified that his father was not opposed to the project as such. “Why hasn’t the Cong-NCP coalition, which has been in power for ten years, not implemented the project?’’ he asked.