Congress spoils Shiv Sena’s party

MUMBAI: Congress on Wednesday spoiled Shiv Sena’s party. The Sena’s plan to mobilise support by launching an agitation to protest the Centre’s decision banning anniversary celebration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s coronation at the Raigad Fort was thwarted by the Manmohan Singh government that decided to allow the function.

“The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has given its nod to Maharashtra to celebrate the 336th coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the Raigad Fort after the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s office intervened,” a state government spokesperson said Wednesday.

Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan held discussions with a senior PMO official in this regard, Mantralaya sources said. As reported Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray had on Tuesday challenged the ban, saying his party will celebrate the 336th coronation anniversary at the Fort, irrespective of Archeological Survey of India (ASI) banning any such function. “No Mughal emperor could stop it. Then who are the present day ASI officials,” he had asked.

His son, the Sena executive president Uddhav, echoed similar views and went a step further by deciding to lead a march to the Raigad Fort to mark the occasion. “The timely intervention at the highest level has deflated the Sena’s plan,” a minister in the Ashok Chavan government reacted.

After chief minister Ashok Chavan brought the seriousness of the issue to the PMO’s notice, a Union cultural secretary held a high-level meeting with concerned officers and gave the go ahead for celebrating the anniversary of Shivaji Maharaj coronation atop the Fort, sources said.

The ASI had earlier declined permission to hold a function at the Raigad Fort citing provisions of Archeological sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act 2010. The ASI decision had come under sharp attack from various corners.