On Monday, Shiv Sena warned the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) that if it considers the construction of monuments for great personalities in the city illegitimate, it should also remove thousands of illegal mosques constructed on government lands in Maharashtra.
Through its party mouthpiece 'Saamana', Shiv Sena stated in an editorial, 'Will they demand the demolition of unauthorized mosques? Muslims benefit greatly from Hajj pilgrimage subsidies. Isn't this a waste of public funds?' AIMIM recently demanded that public land and money should not be used for constructing monuments for prominent leaders.
AIMIM expressed its displeasure over the plans to construct monuments for Chhatrapati Shivaji, Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, and senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde in the city.
AIMIM argued that these public funds should be used for building hospitals in the name of leaders. Party MLA Imtiaz Jaleel said that if such monuments are to be built, they can be constructed on private land.
According to Saamana, 'This is expected from party leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, who offered prayers at the tomb of Aurangzeb. After all, AIMIM is inspired by Aurangzeb and Afzal Khan.'
-Input IANS
