State govt to build Marathi Gymkhana in SoBo: Minister

Mumbai: In a bid to reach out to Marathi voters ahead of the assembly polls, Shiv Sena minister Deepak Kesarkar on Friday said the state govt will construct a Marathi Gymkhana in south Mumbai on the lines of community gymkhanas like Islam Gymkhana and Parsi Gymkhana. Officials said BMC had been asked to find a suitable parcel of land for the Marathi Gymkhana."To make sure that the Marathi influence and culture are retained in Mumbai, the state govt has decided to set up a Marathi gymkhana in south Mumbai. I have asked BMC to find a suitable land parcel for this gymkhana. Only Marathi people will get membership of this gymkhana," Kesarkar said. "There are gymkhanas of several communities and different sections of society in south Mumbai, so on the same lines, the Mahayuti govt will set up a Marathi Gymkhana." In March, the cabinet had approved a 1.02 lakh sq feet plot in south Mumbai for a gymkhana for the Jain community. The plot was given on a 30-year lease to the Jain International Organisation, which has around 33 lakh members. There are already Hindu, Christian, Parsi, and Islam gymkhanas at Marine Drive. These were established by the British.