Mumbai:
Early this morning, Uddhav Thackeray emerged from Matoshree, the house in suburban Bandra where his father, Bal, has 24X7 medical assistance, and gave a clear message to the nearly 1500 Shiv Sena workers who were waiting for news of their leader. "I have not lost hope. You too must not lose hope. All efforts are on. Please pray." He also said, "It is a request that you maintain peace and calm. I do not want any complaints of violence to reach me." (
Watch: Uddhav asks Sena workers to stay calm, pray)
The call for prayers and peace would be repeated through the day today - at 11 am, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told NDTV that 86-year-old "Balasaheb" as he is known had responded to treatment, was no longer on life support, and that Shiv Sainiks should not gather at Matoshree, where a large contingent of reporters and cameras have been given a holding place. Last night, a Hindi channel's equipment was vandalised. Sena leaders said today that had made it clear that the media was not to be targeted. Anti-riot squads were posted at Matoshree, along with the Rapid Action Force. (
Bal Thackeray stable now, says Shiv Sena)
The Sainiks' attendance fell considerably today at Matoshree, but VIP politicians and Bollywood stars made appearances through the day, signalling that despite his divisive politics, Mr Thackeray commands the attention of virtually every camp in the city.
The focus in Mumbai has been equally divided between Mr Thackeray's condition, and fortifying the city against violence should he deteriorate. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has held a meeting with senior policemen to ensure Sena strongholds like Dadar and Lower Parel are being patrolled. A total of 48,000 policemen are manning the streets; those who had been granted vacation have been told to get back to work.
Most markets and offices, especially those in Bandra and Dadar, home to the Sena's headquarters, remained closed today. The usually-packed railway stations were empty. The police said this was partly because of the festival of
Bhau-beej, but acknowledged that traders and others preferred to skip business today as a pre-emptive measure against possible vandalism by the Shiv Sena.
At Matoshree, however, it was a day of frenetic activity-an incessant stream of A-listers visited Mr Thackeray. His nephew, Raj, estranged till recently, spent many hours at the house.
Actor Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek drove in last night, Mr Bachchan's kurta was torn as he tried to make his way through the aggressive cadres outside. He later tweeted, "T 932 - Yes both Abhishek and me were injured with cuts, but are fine and back home ... the doctors at 'Matoshree' attended on us !" Other actors who stopped by include Salman Khan, his brother Arbaaz accompanied by their father Salim Khan, and Maanyata and Sanjay Dutt.
The politicians who visited Mr Thackeray included BJP president Nitin Gadkari, the chief minister, and union minister Sharad Pawar, who is also the chief of the Nationalist Congress party (NCP).