Can politicos focus on more pressing issues, please?

Narayan Rane. Pic/AFP

With the controversy about Union minister Narayan Rane’s slap remark against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, we are back to just two days ago, when Mumbai’s iconic sporting ground Shivaji Park was in the news. The park was the unwitting backdrop as the beginning of the current problem was played out. Rane, now with the BJP, of course, invoked the late Balasaheb Thackeray in one of his ‘we will win the BMC elections’ speeches. He paid tribute to Balasaheb Thackeray at Shivaji Park.

The Shiv Sena, while slamming Rane, also stated that they have ‘purified’ the place where Rane paid tribute. This in turn irked BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis who claimed it was unnecessary and did not reflect a good mindset. There was a fair bit of tension over the episode and reports claimed that security had been enhanced at the spot.

All this sounds quite unbelievable at a time when we are in the midst of a pandemic and the state is concentrating on getting ready for a possible third wave. Instead of more vital issues being discussed like medical staffers, oxygen, beds and the all-important vaccines, our leaders are discussing this inanity. Given the standards that they have set in the past, maybe, this should not surprise us too much.

Instead, we have to look at how the grounds are maintained. If there is any infra needed at the park itself, see if the local corporators can pitch in, with the help of the community. We want to hear about Aaditya Thackeray’s cultural spine of Mumbai project of which Shivaji Park is a part, and any future plans.

Instead, we have this battle with a ground forming a backdrop. Concentrate on more important matters and respond to the community and people, instead of these tiresome trading of charges.

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