Please stop politicising the issue of Lata Mangeshkar's memorial at Shivaji Park: Brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar

By Tanmayi Savadi

on February 11, 2022 09:44:20 AM

Days after Lata Mangeshkar's demise, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanding a memorial to be erected at Shivaji Park where the legendary singer was cremated. This sparked off a debate between all political parties situated in Mumbai.

Amid the heated political debate over Lata Mangeshkar's memorial, the singer's brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar put out a personal request to not politicise her demise. He further said in a video statement that the family never wished for a memorial for their 'Didi'. "Please stop politicising the issue of Lata didi's memorial at Shivaji Park. The demand for it has not come from our family's side as we don't wish for it," Hridaynath Mangeshkar said in Marathi.

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Hridaynath Mangeshkar further added in his video that CM Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya Thackeray and minister Uday Samant had approached Lata Didi with the proposal of establishing a music school on her name. The legendary singer had given her nod to it but not the memorial. Hridaynath Mangeshkar shared in his statement, "We want that legacy to continue and her musical skills to be kept alive. If we want to celebrate her legacy we will support the music institute and not the memorial." As per reports, the name of the music school will be Bharat Ratna Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar International Music College. It will be built in Mumbai University's Kalina campus.

Maharashtra BJP MLA Ram Kadam writes to CM Uddhav Thackeray, requesting a memorial of veteran singer #LataMangeshkar, at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. She was cremated at the park yesterday with full state honours. pic.twitter.com/xkMDIVsJy7

— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2022

After Ram Kadam's request to CM Thackeray, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut opposed the idea. However, Kadam then wrote a letter to NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and shared it on Twitter. Shivaji Park has had an emotional connection to Shiv Sena. The former supremo of the party, Balasaheb Thackeray, hosted an annual Dussehra rally, a tradition carried forward by his son and current Maharashtra CM, Uddhav Thackeray. Balasaheb Thackeray was also cremated at Shivaji Park and a small memorial for him already exists in a part of the ground.