Aaditya Thackeray: Mumbai is ready for extended nightlife

Aaditya Thackeray

That Mumbai partied without any stand-out untoward incident on the 31st is a feather in the state government's cap is obvious, but now the Shiv Sena is using it to push one of its pet projects - extending the city's partying hours through the night.

Also read: Mumbai nightlife plan could be scrapped

Aaditya Thackeray

With supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party posting a picture of Chief Minister Devendra fadnavis online with the announcement that Mumbai can party till 5 am, has prompted Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray to prod the CM to rethink his arguments against an extended nightlife. Perhaps, he can think of at least increasing the hours to 5 am on Saturdays, Thackeray has suggested.

On his Facebook page Thackeray, president of the Sena's youth wing Yuva Sena, posted: "Happy New Year all! Have a year of joy, peace, prosperity!! I thank Mumbai and Mumbai Police for keeping our city safe on New Years, without any stray event of shame. I was very pleased to see this photo on Twitter and I thank the Hon'ble CM for trusting Mumbaikars and allowing the tradition of letting Mumbai party till dawn, as for the last few years. I'm glad, we the Government, trusted Mumbaikars, as I've been pleading since last year. I have some hope that the long held up proposal of allowing affordable eateries, theatres, shops to be open all night in Malls, Non Residential Areas and designated chowpatties will be allowed to be implemented this year at least. Mumbai's strength is safety and we must use it for our State's revenue, employment, tourism and allow the common man to chill after a hard day's work. We could start with Saturday nights, and obviously what's legal during the day can be legal at night too." (sic)

Thackeray had first mooted the proposal in February 2015, after which he even met the CM and things looked very bright, with even the then Mumbai Police chief Rakesh Maria giving it his nod.

However, as days passed, the BJP's seemed to backtrack on it and its leaders weren't much excited. Thackeray had then met the CM on the subject, who initially approved it. But, later the proposal was put in cold storage by the CM who heads the state home department.

Always in favour
A senior Sena functionary said, "The CM was always in favour of the proposal, but the party's Mumbai unit never gave positive feedback. Later, in the same month when the proposal for allowing restaurants to have rooftop outlets was mooted by Thackeray to the BMC Improvements Committee - which is largely made of BJP leaders - it was opposed."

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The BJP on the other hand is happy with the praise the CM has received from Thackeray, but remains non-committal on its stand on the proposal.

Niranjan Shetty, BJP Mumbai's chief spokesperson said, "Let me thank Aaditya for applauding the law and order situation and acknowledging that it was taken care of by the state Home department. As far as the proposal for extended nightlife hours is concerned, the CM will surely decide upon the subject and make an announcement when appropriate."