10 October,2009 08:32 AM IST | | Vaidehi Limaye
Lovers were not even allowed to sit on the park parapet, during preparations for MNS president's rally yesterday
Many political rallies are held at the Shivaji Park but, for couples, it is a place they frequent almost every day.
u00a0
The MNS held its rally four days before the Assembly elections last night, much to the chagrin of lovers who were shooed away during the preparations.
Two days before the rally, city cops were deployed for security and MNS workers shooed away couples to came to the park.
Rishi Khanna (19) and Sherlyn Gupta (21) (names changed), who regularly visit the park, were not allowed to hang around yesterday, as the area was cleared for security.
We were just sitting on the parapet, like we do regularly, but a few workers shooed us away without reason. We don't have another place to hang out after college, said Sherlyn.
ALSO READ
MNS Chief Raj Thackeray offers prayers at Ganesh Pandal in Mumbai
We cannot continue to accept this as normal: Biden condemns shooting incident
Three injured in drone attack in Manipur; CM condemns terrorist acts
Dhankhar condemns Kolkata rape case, makes veiled attack at Sibal for 'symptomatic malaise' remark
VP Dhankhar condemns Kolkata doctor rape-murder incident
They were not the only ones who complained of the treatment meted out to them.
They are just randomly picking up all the couples. Can't they shoo off the beggars who sleep on the pavement? said another college student.
Fed up residents
Residents of Shivaji Park are fed up of the commotion caused during political rallies.
Balkrishan Shetty, president of Warriors of Shivaji Park, a residents association, said, My car that was parked outside my building was towed to another lane during the rally preparation.
My daughter cannot concentrate on her studies due to the noise. Our lives turn upside down during every rally.
Radhika Mule, a Shivaji Park resident and a teacher, said, These rallies are really a big problem for us.
Every time a big rally is held, I have to cancel my tuitions. This is the fifth time in the month that we have cancelled our class.
Proud of Raj
Pooja Shetty, member of Warriors of Shivaji Park, said, We are proud that Raj Thackery is resident of Shivaji Park, but sometimes it is irritating because he attracts a lot of attention and fans create chaos in our vicinity.u00a0
The media also cram into our lane to interview him.
The other side
Shailesh Prabhu, an MNS worker at the park, said, These people unnecessarily hang around the park. We are trying to help police in maintaining security.
