This story is from March 17, 2019

Mumbai bridge collapse: Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya draw flak and 'penguin' taunts for 'no-show'

The Thackerays, whose Shiv Sena has usually been among the early responders to any major disaster in Mumbai in the 1980s and 1990s, were conspicuous by their absence from the scene after Thursday's footbridge collapse.
Mumbai bridge collapse: Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya draw flak and 'penguin' taunts for 'no-show'
Uddhav Thackeray
MUMBAI: The Thackerays, whose Shiv Sena has usually been among the early responders to any major disaster in Mumbai in the 1980s and 1990s, were conspicuous by their absence from the scene after Thursday's footbridge collapse. This might reputationally be a new turning point for the party that has controlled BMC since 1997.
Besides, the Saamna published a very mildly-worded editorial on Saturday, blaming the overcrowding of Mumbai and the multiplicity of agencies for the mess that the city finds itself in.
While Uddhav Thackeray has not commented on the tragedy, Aaditya posted tweets promising action against those responsible, only to receive scathing replies that the Sena could not shrug off responsibility as the ruling party in BMC.
The conspicuous absence of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya from the scene in the aftermath of the CSMT bridge tragedy, however, might reputationally be a new turning point for the party that has controlled the cash-rich BMC without a break since 1997.
Aaditya put out a series of tweets promising action against those responsible and a "revisiting of the audit," but received scathing replies from Twitterati who expressed shock and disbelief, saying the Sena could not shrug off responsibility as the ruling party in the civic body. One Twitter user claiming to be a Sainik even asked how, in the face of the CSMT crash, were they expected to campaign for Sena in the coming elections.
The Congress and NCP were strongly critical, saying Uddhav had the time for opening of gymnasiums in the open (a pet project of Aaditya) but not for victims of the bridge tragedy. Nitesh Rane, son of Sena rebel Narayan Rane, was more caustic. "Rather than pampering Penguins n fighting for night life...why doesn't Sena-led BMC try saving real lives for a change!" he tweeted, referring to the penguins brought in at the BMC-run Jijamata Udyan in Byculla on the Sena leadership's insistence and Aaditya's push for restaurants and pubs to remain open 24X7.
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