Mumbai: The Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra authorities has invited bids for its proposed ‘Swatantraveer Savarkar’ theme park devoted to Hindutva ideologue Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, ThePrint has learnt.
First introduced in February, the venture is being pushed by the state tourism division, helmed by BJP’s Mangal Prabhat Lodha. It’s anticipated to come back up in Nashik’s Bhagur village, the place Savarkar was born in 1883.
The Maharashtra Tourism Improvement Company (MTDC) has referred to as for bids to arrange a grasp plan and an in depth venture report for the theme park. ThePrint has seen the tender paperwork.
An official from the state tourism division who didn’t want to be named mentioned, “The theme park can be developed at village Bhagur the place V.D. Savarkar was born. The architect/guide we decide will confirm the land requirement for the venture, establish the land required and put together land acquisition proposals.”
He added: “The concept is to have numerous experiential actions in order that guests get a glimpse into the life and struggles of Savarkar.”
In keeping with the tender paperwork, the guide should put together preliminary plans, draw up price estimates, conduct website investigations, supervise precise work, assist in land acquisition, get the required approvals from totally different departments and so forth.
ThePrint tried to achieve Saurabh Vijay, principal secretary of the Maharashtra tourism division, by way of calls and textual content messages. This report can be up to date if and when a response is obtained.
Bhagur is about 22 km from Nashik metropolis and 4 km from the Deolali hill station within the district. The Hindutva icon’s home, Savarkar Wada, nonetheless stands within the village and is a vacationer attraction.
Additionally Learn: Learn this earlier than deciding whether or not Savarkar was a British stooge or strategic nationalist
Politics over Savarkar
The Shinde authorities’s plan for a theme park based mostly on Savarkar comes at a time when each ruling events — the BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena — have been projecting him as their icon. Final month, each events led ‘Savarkar Gaurav yatras’ throughout Maharashtra to spotlight his life and achievements, and their very own supposed dedication to his ideology.
The rallies have been prompted by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s allegedly objectionable remarks about Savarkar, which induced a rift between the Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).
The 2 events are allies within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which additionally contains the Nationalist Congress Get together (NCP).
The rallies have been a approach for the BJP and Shinde-led Shiv Sena to take political benefit of the state of affairs by attempting to point out how they’re extra dedicated to honouring Savarkar as in comparison with the Shiv Sena (UBT) — a celebration whose ally allegedly disrespects his legacy.
One of many first such ‘Savarkar Gaurav Yatras’ had began from the Bhagur village.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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