Mumbai: Bal Thackeray will be cremated today at Shivaji Park,
where he launched the Shiv Sena 46 years ago at a massive rally on
Dussehra. The police expect a crowd of three to four lakh at the ground.
The Shiv Sena chief died on Saturday afternoon, after a prolonged illness at the age of 86. (Read more) A funeral procession has left his Bandra home 'Matoshree' with Mr Thackeray's body being carried in a hearse on a flower bedecked truck. There is a three-tier security around it - the Mumbai Police make up the first layer, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) is the second tier and Shiv Sena volunteers make up the third. Over one lakh grieving Shiv Sena workers are walking along making it slow progress. They have poured into Mumbai from all over Maharashtra since yesterday.
The Shiv Sena's executive president and Bal Thackeray's son and successor Uddhav, his wife Rashmi and son Aditya are on truck that is carrying Mr Thackeray. So are Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief and Bal Thackeray's nephew Raj, his wife Sharmila and their children.
The Shiv Sena has obtained permission to perform his last rites at the park at 6 pm; he will also be given full state honours. This is the first funeral to be held at Shivaji Park; the ground had special significance for Bal Thackeray, who launched his political party here in 1966. It was the venue for many of his rallies over the years, including his last public address on Dussehra this year, when he spoke to the crowd through a recorded video message.
Security is tight, with all of Mumbai's 48,000 policemen deployed today; Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh has cancelled his daughter's wedding reception tonight as he shall be busy with security detailing. At every 100 metres along the route of the funeral procession, 25 policemen have been deployed. The police has issued a traffic advisory and suggested that people stay home, unless absolutely necessary. "I appeal to people to remain calm and maintain law and order," the Mumbai Police Commissioner said.
Many Bollywood stars, important politicians and industrialists are expected to travel across the city today to pay their respects; they visited Mr Thackeray in great numbers over Wednesday and Thursday this week signalling that despite his divisive politics, Mr Thackeray commanded the attention of virtually every camp in the city. (Read: The legacy of Bal Thackeray on google)
No autorickshaws or taxis are plying in Mumbai today; the BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) has arranged for extra buses.
The
funeral procession was scheduled to leave Matoshree at 7 am today, but
was delayed as roads around the Thackeray residence were filled with
thousands of supporters. Bal Thackeray's body was finally brought out of
his house a little after 9 am in a hearse adorned with flowers. Uddhav
Thackeray broke down as his father's body was being put on to the truck.At Matoshree security has been very tight. As news of Bal Thackeray's death spread on Saturday afternoon, thousands of Shiv Sena workers gathered within minutes outside the Thackeray home. Till late in the night, there was a crowd of about 6,000 people there. About 2,000 cops have been posted there.
