27 November,2023 05:06 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
CM Eknath Shinde. File Pic
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday said late Anand Dighe, who is his mentor, built an empire of citizens without being on any official post, reported the PTI.
According to the news agency, while speaking at the 'muhurat' of "Dharamveer-2", the second part of a biopic on Anand Dighe, a hugely popular Shiv Sena leader in the Maharashtra's Thane belt, CM Eknath Shinde, without naming anyone, said some people did not like the way certain events were depicted in the first part titled "Dharamveer Mukkam Post".
However, circumstances are such now that whether one likes it or not "we are the deciding authority", he asserted.
"Ours is the full and final decision and we are going ahead with what we feel is right," CM Eknath Shinde said, as per the PTI.
Anand Dighe, a firebrand leader, ran the Shiv Sena in the Thane-Palghar belt and adjoining areas in his own way and enjoyed a massive following among people and unflinching loyalty from leaders in Maharashtra.
Thanking the actors and artistes who contributed for the first part, which released in May last year, Shinde said it had enhanced the popularity of Dighe worldwide and had also won 17 awards.
Multiple films will have to be made to encompass all the achievements of the late leader, Shinde claimed.
CM Eknath Shinde said he was walking on the path shown by Dighe and Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray and was ensuring his government used "satta, sampati aur adhikaar" (government, wealth and power) for the benefit of citizens.
Recalling that Dighe had donate a silver brick for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had kept his promise and the grand place of worship will be inaugurated on January 22.
"We will all be present there on the occasion," CM Shinde said.
The Shiv Sena split in June last year after CM Shinde rebelled against then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray and brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
Eknath Shinde became Maharahstra CM with the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his faction also got the party name and the 'bow and arrow' symbol.
The Shinde-led Sena gives pride of place to Dighe on all its posters and at events and marks important days related to the late leader at Anand Ashram, the undivided Sena's main office in Thane.
(with PTI inputs)
