Should Bal Thackeray be declared a 'national hero'?

Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Arvind Sawant has demanded that party supremo Bal Thackeray should be accorded the status of a ‘national hero’ and that his photo should be put up in all the government offices of the state.

In a letter written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, Sawant stated that Thackeray's contribution to Maharashtra's development is immense and, ‘without vying for any political gains’, he ensured that Marathi-speaking people excel in various fields.

“Marathi-speaking people in the state did not get justice even after the formation of Maharashtra and thus, Balasaheb Thackeray founded the Shiv Sena that gave Marathi speaking people a platform to get justice and what is due to them,” he said in the letter.

Thackeray's contribution to the Marathi language, the state's culture, and the political, educational and financial development of the Marathi people is immense, he believed.

“He lived a simple life and despite not taking up the reigns of power, he made sure that Marathi people did exceptional work in various fields,” he mentioned.

“The state government should declare such a nationalist person a national hero and according to the protocol, his photo should be in every government office in the state,” Sawant demanded in the letter.

Sawant told PTI that Thackeray always believed in the service to the country and that if any person, irrespective of religion, has love for India and is willing to sacrifice his life for it, he is a patriot.

“Balasaheb has done immense service to the people in his lifetime. He was a man who did not ever ask for any lucrative position in the government and spent his entire life for the upliftment of Maharashtra, poor and the downtrodden. He has ensured dignity for the common man and he deserves to be called a national hero. If there can be other people’s photo in the government offices, why not his?” he said.