Shiv Sena today welcomed the BJP government's move to expedite necessary approvals and clearances for the proposed grand memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji off the Arabian Sea here.
The party also raked up the stability issue and said howsoever "unstable" BJP may be after not having obtained a clear majority in the October Assembly polls, it still has to take firm decisions in interest of the state.
"If the Chief Minister does initiate steps to build a memorial to Shivaji Maharaj, the work on it can be completed soon. We welcome the CM's willingness to construct the memorial at the earliest. Maharashtra has a rich history only because of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," said an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana.'
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on November 20 had asked the state administration to expedite all approvals and clearances for the memorial during a review meeting to take stock of the project.
The party said BJP has to take firm decisions for the state.
"The BJP had used Shivaji Maharaj's name while campaigning for the Assembly election and the electorate brought them near the majority mark. Though the government is still unstable, a government is a government. It needs to take firm decisions in the interest of the state," it said.
The Sena said many development works in the state had been stuck due to lack of environmental clearances. "If Environmental Department takes a positive view of situation, many development works in the state can get started."
The project, envisaged by the previous Congress-NCP government, had been hanging fire for long due to several hurdles, including delay in getting environment clearance.
Besides a life-size statue of the 17th century Maratha king, the venture involves construction of a museum, auditorium, library, exhibition hall and amphitheatre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to lay the foundation stone of the multi-crore project.
