Aditya Thackeray Criticizes BJP for Converting Football Ground into Convention Center

Aditya Thackeray, a leader from the Shiv Sena (UBT), expressed his disapproval on Friday regarding the BJP's decision to transform the Neville D'Souza Football Ground in Bandra West into a convention center. He claimed that this move would deprive the youth of essential sports facilities while benefiting contractors and builders. In a post on X, Thackeray questioned why India, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, is not hosting the FIFA World Cup, while countries with smaller populations are participating. He pointed out that the BJP-led BMC has reserved the football ground for a convention center, suggesting that a contractor would profit, a builder would gain from the location, and a BJP leader's name would be attached to the center.

Thackeray highlighted that numerous tournaments, ranging from grassroots to elite divisions, have taken place at this ground over the past nine years. Despite requests from the Mumbai Football Association, the use of the ground for sports has now been prohibited. He noted that thousands of players have participated in various tournaments each season, and now, despite the association's pleas, they are being denied access to their own field, which will be replaced by a convention center built by a contractor. He warned that Bandra West, already a congested area, would face even more traffic, especially near a hospital, while contractors and builders would benefit at the expense of children's play areas.

Thackeray further stated that his previous protests had successfully prevented the privatization of two recreational grounds and municipal blood banks in Mumbai. He emphasized that the government seems intent on eliminating sports in the city, as recreational spaces are being arbitrarily converted into concrete structures that require tickets for entry. He criticized the act of taking away sports grounds from the youth and associations, only to engage in discussions about the future of sports. His earlier protests had saved two recreational grounds in Mumbai, but the BJP appears focused on establishing a convention center named after one of its leaders on this plot.