Balasaheb Thackeray's funeral Live : Uddhav lights funeral pyre

Human sea emerged at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday to say final good bye to Sena Chief. Uddhav lit the funeral pyre of Balasaheb with Aditya, Raj and others standing with moist eyes.

Lakhs of people on Sunday came out to catch a last glimpse of Balasaheb Thackeray and pay homage to him as the Shiv sena patriarch's funeral procession started from his residence amidst a complete shutdown with markets shut and taxis and autos off the roads.

Full state honour was accorded to the Balasaheb.

People thronged the roadsides, flyovers, skywalks and balconies of their buildings to catch a glimpse of the Sena patriarch and pay homage to him.

In view of the legions of crowds pouring in to pay their last respects to Balasaheb, it is estimated that the funeral procession would take more than two hours to reach the Sena Bhawan (party headquarters) at Dadar.


Lakhs of supporters comes out in full force to show their last respect to Balasaheb Thackeray . Top political leaders are expected to turn up to pay their last rescpects.

As the senior Thackeray’s hearse is brought out, Uddhav breaks down briefly and is seen breaking into tears. Uddhav Thackeray is  accompanied by his son Aditya.

Thousands of Shiv Sainiks have also formed a human chain to enable the procession pass smoothly. "The state government has already announced that Thackeray will be accorded a state funeral," state Protocol Minister Suresh Shetty said.

Extensive security arrangements have been put in place in the state, particularly in Mumbai, with over 20,000 police personnel deployed in the metropolis to keep a tight vigil.Security has been beefed up at 'Matoshree' and Shivaji Park with vehicular traffic prohibited in and around the area.

The body would be kept at Shivaji Park from 9 am for Shiv Sena workers to pay their last respects. The mortal remains of the 86-year-old Sena patriarch will be taken from his residence at 'Matoshree' to Sena Bhavan in Dadar at around 7.30 am.

 

"The funeral would be held at Shivaji Park ground. We have received permission from the state government in this regard," Shiv Sena MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut told.

 Shivaji Park was the place where the very first rally of Shiv Sena was held, and where Thackeray held his annual Dussehra rallies year after year. This year, however, he had not been able to attend the event because of ill-health.

The body of 86-year-old Sena leader, who breathed his last yesterday, was taken out of his residence 'Matoshree' in a hearse adorned with flowers.Thackeray, who was critically ill since last Wednesday,was declared dead last afternoon by Dr Jaleel Parkar who was treating him. The Sena chief had been suffering from respiratory problems and pancreatic disease.

According to doctors, Thackeray passed away at 3.33 PM due to cardiac arrest.Thackeray's cort?ge will first go to Sena Bhavan, the party headquarters in Dadar, and the body would later be kept at Shivaji Park for people to pay their last respects.

The last rites will be performed at 6 PM at Shivaji Park,where the Sena patriarch addressed his party workers for over four decades since 1966.

 
The bereaved Thackeray family is accompanied by several Sena leaders including Manohar Joshi, Diwakar Raote, party spokesperson Sanjay Raut, Neelam Gorhe, Vinayak Raut, Anil Desai, Subhash Desai, senior BJP Gopinath Munde, among others.
 

MNS chief and nephew of the late Sena chief, Raj Thackeray reached Matoshree along with his wife.

Funeral procession begins from Matoshree, residence of the late Sena chief.

 Security has been beefed up across Maharashtra where 48,000 policemen have been deployed to keep vigil ahead of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's funeral . No autorickshaws and taxis will ply in Mumbai on Sunday .

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde will be unable to attend Bal Thackeray's funeralas he would have to stay in Delhi due to work exigency.
   

An order was issued recently that in absence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from Delhi due to his foreign visit from  Sunday, either Defence Minister, Finance Minister or Home Minister will stay in Delhi, official sources said.

 As the other two will not be in Delhi tomorrow, Shinde will have to stay in Delhi and will not be able to attend Thackeray's funeral, they said.  Maharashtra Industries Minister Narayan Rane, a former Shiv Sainik, also wont be able to attend as he is abroad.

 Bandh called in Belgaum

Marathi outfits including Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES), Shiv Sena and Hindu organisations have called for a bandh in the district to mourn the death of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray on Sunday.

 Life in Belgaum city, which normally bustle with tourists from Goa and Maharashtra on Sundays, will wear a deserted look  today with all shops, business establishment deciding to down their shutters and even local transport deciding to remain off roads.

A public condolence meeting was held here today.Adequate police bandobast has been made in the district to prevent any untoward incidents, Additional Superintendent of Police Ganga Reddy told