Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray passes away

Shiv Sena chief Bal Keshav Thackeray, the militant flagbearer of Hindu nationalism and regional chauvinism who did not hesitate to resort to mob tactics to have his will enforced, died here Saturday at 3.30 p.m.

He was 86. His doctor, Jaleel Parker, made the announcement at 4.55 p.m. outside Matoshree, his residence, that was as much the city's landmark as a place of pilgrimage for millions of supporters throughout the state.
Thousands of them had been standing in vigil outside his home in upscale Bandra East area of Mumbai for the last 72 hours as the news got out about Thackeray's failing health.
He is survived by his sons, political heir and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and filmmaker Jaidev. A widower, Thackeray's wife Meena and his eldest son Bindhumadhav passed away in 1996.
His nephew, Raj Thackeray, once considered his political heir, broke away to form his own regional party, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which often competed with Shiv Sena in espousing extreme rightwing views that championed local Marathi pride and exclusivism at the expense of other communities that resided in India's richest and most industrialised state.

The former cartoonist, who in the later years sported a stylish beard and wore twin bead necklaces in the manner of Hindu gurus, Thackeray ran his political party Shiv Sena (the army of Lord Shiva, one of the Hindu Trinity), like a local militia. He leaves behind a legacy of anti-minority poison that has been scourge of Mumbai, the country's financial and entertainment capital.

Active till the end, Thackeray, who never hesitated to practice his particular brand of street politics, had just days ago on Nov 5 asked party activists "not to permit" the forthcoming cricket matches between India and Pakistan.
In a front-page appeal in the party mouthpiece Saamna, he had lashed out at Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for his statement "to forget the past" and play cricket with Pakistan.

Thackeray was ailing for about two years and was under regular medical treatment at home. In the last week, his health deteriorated sharply.
According to party leaders, a virtual ICU had been recreated at Matoshri with all emergency equipment and medical and para-medical staff on duty round the clock.
His son Uddhav Thackeray was fielding scores of visitors, politicians and showbiz celebrities as this city remained on the edge for the last few days with heavy police deployment outside his residence and in trouble spots around the city.
Glamour world personalities like Amitabh Bachchan with his son Abhishek, Rishi Kapoor and brother Randhir, Salim Khan and son Salman Khan, Manoj Kumar, Madhur Bhandarkar and Bappi Lahiri visited Matoshri to enquire after Thackeray's health during the week.

The Shiv Sena has appealed to its activists to maintain calm, co-operate with the police and not target the media.
Shops are shuttering across Mahim and Dadar near the Shiv Sena Bhavan in the wake of Thackeray’s death.Over 20,000 policemen have been deployed across the city and the Mumbai police commissioner has also appealed for calm.

Prime Minister expresses grief

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has condoled the passing away of Bala Saheb Thackeray and canceled his scheduled dinner with Opposition leaders, according to the PMO India Twitter handle. He also appealed for calm.
In his condolence message the Prime Minister said, “For him the interests of Maharashtra were particularly important and he always strived to inculcate a sense of pride in its people. He founded the Shiv Sena and built the party into a formidable force in the State politics with his strong leadership.
He was a consummate communicator whose stature in the politics of Maharashtra was unique. The passing away of Bala Saheb will be deeply felt by his family and followers.”
Body to be kept at Shivaji Park The body of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, will be kept at Shivaji Park to enable millions of party activists and Mumbaikars to pay their last respects to the leader from 7 am Sunday, party MP Sanjay Raut told reporters.Raut also appealed to all Shiv Sainiks to “maintain calm and remain peaceful” in the wake of the tragedy which has befallen them.
Shivaji Park in south-central Mumbai is the same place where 46 years ago, Thackeray addressed his first Dussehra rally and continued the annual tradition virtually uninterrupted till his death Saturday.

-Sakshipost