Disrespect to martyrs memorial sparks off protest in Mumbai

Scores of workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is headed by Raj Thackeray have protested against an alleged disrespect shown to a martyrs memorial by two Shiv Sena legislators.

Mumbai, July 24 : Scores of workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is headed by Raj Thackeray have protested against an alleged disrespect shown to a martyrs' memorial by two Shiv Sena legislators.

The two Shiv Sena legislators, drank fruit juice at Hutatma Chowk during a social function.

Raj Thackeray condemned the act.

"My grandfather was also involved in the fight for a unified Maharashtra. How would he have felt when legislators from his own party showed disrespect when they sat and had fruit juice at the memorial built in respect to martyrs of that cause?" asked Raj Thackeray.

Hutatma Chowk was built in memory of members of the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti, a movement in which scores of people laid down their lives in an altercation with police, for the cause of a unified Maharashtra state.

Formerly called Flora Fountain, it derives its present name from an incident in 1960 when a peaceful demonstration by the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was fired upon by the police, resulting in some deaths. The incident led to the formation of the present State of Maharashtra.

The Hutatma Chowk square is lined on all sides by buildings constructed during the British Raj.

ANI