BMC demolishes 'illegal' Shiv Sena (UBT) office, party workers protest
What's the story
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday demolished an "unauthorized" and "illegal" office of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in Bandra East, Mumbai. According to The Indian Express, the demolition work using a bulldozer began on Thursday morning in the presence of police. Meanwhile, party workers staged a protest against the razing at the site.
Twitter Post
Watch: BMC razes Shiv Sena (UBT) branch
VIDEO | BMC demolishes Uddhav Thackeray faction's Shiv Sena Shakha in Mumbai's Bandra East. pic.twitter.com/QrqD61h8g0
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 22, 2023
Details
No demolition notice was sent: Party workers
According to the Shiv Sena (UBT), no prior notice was sent regarding the demolition. However, a civic official told IE, "We had served the office bearers a notice to take down the unauthorized portions of the office voluntarily." Earlier, reports said the security of party chief Uddhav Thackeray's family was thinned as authorities removed a metal detector installed at the gates of their residence.
More information
ED raided premises of Thackeray's, Raut's aides
The demolition came a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at 15 locations in an alleged money laundering case linked to the COVID-19 field hospital scam case. The raids included the premises of Yuva Sena (UBT) secretary Suraj Chavan, an aide of Thackeray. A case was also registered against Sujit Patkar, a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.
Further information
Thackeray announced march against BMC's 'corruption' on July 1
On Tuesday, Thackeray announced his party would hold a march on July 1 against the BMC's "fund irregularities and corruption." This came after both factions of the Shiv Sena engaged in verbal spats on Shiv Sena's foundation day on Monday. While the Thackeray faction said the day should be called "traitors day," CM Eknath Shinde's group attacked Thackeray for joining hands with the Congress.