Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday sharply criticised the state government’s decision to cut down 1,800 trees in preparation for the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nashik, alleging that the move is unnecessary and driven by vested interests rather than public need.
In a detailed statement posted on X, Thackeray said Nashik has successfully hosted the Kumbh Mela in the past without resorting to large-scale deforestation. He recalled that during the period when the MNS controlled the Nashik Municipal Corporation, significant infrastructure was created for the religious event through effective coordination between corporators and the civic administration.
आगामी कुंभमेळ्यासाठी सरकारने १८०० झाडं तोडण्याचा निर्णय घेतला आहे. नाशिकमध्ये कुंभमेळा हा काही पहिल्यांदा होत नाहीये. महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेनेच्या महापालिकेच्या सत्ताकाळात पण कुंभमेळा झाला. त्यावेळेला आम्ही भरपूर पायाभूत सुविधा उभारल्या. त्यावेळच्या नगरसेवकांचा आणि प्रशासनाचा…
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) November 29, 2025
“The planning at that time was so efficient that the then Mayor and the Municipal Commissioner were honoured in the United States,” Thackeray said, adding that none of the infrastructure development during that period required the cutting of trees. “Why, then, is it necessary to cut them now?” he questioned.
Thackeray dismissed the government’s assurance that newly planted trees would compensate for the loss, saying such promises rarely materialise. If the state truly has space to plant five times more trees elsewhere, he said, it should simply relocate the Sadhugram there. He further accused the government of exploiting the name of saints to facilitate benefits for “favoured industrialists”.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Thackeray recalled the party’s earlier claims of planting crores of trees, remarking that “those trees were never seen anywhere”.
According to him, the current plan appears to be a pretext to clear land under the guise of Kumbh Mela preparations, only to later hand it over to industrial interests. “What else is happening in Maharashtra these days? Either grabbing land or acting as brokers for industrialists — that is what the ruling ministers, MLAs, their relatives and associates seem to be doing,” he alleged.
Thackeray said the people of Nashik were strongly opposed to the proposed deforestation and urged them to remain firm in their resistance. He emphasised that the MNS would support them irrespective of political considerations or the upcoming elections.
“There is no politics in this. Even after the elections, we will continue to oppose this tree-cutting,” he said, adding that the government should avoid escalating tensions and instead “respect the voice of the people at least once”.
“If the government insists on confrontation,” he warned, “the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is, and will continue to be, with the people in this fight.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday hit out at the Maharashtra government over the “alarming rise” in Mumbai`s air pollution, calling it an outcome of “explosion of corruption”, and attributed it to development with zero planning aimed at benefiting the contractors.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray also questioned the state government for planning to cut trees in Tapovan area of Nashik to make way for the construction of `sadhu gram`, a temporary colony of seers and saints meant for their stay during the Kumbh Mela 2026-27.
On the proposed plan to cut trees in Nashik, Thackeray said Tapovan, where the proposed sadhu gram is to come up, is the place where it is widely believed that Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman resided during their exile.
“This cutting of trees is corruption in the name of Hindutva. BJP`s Hindutva is fake and the trees are being cut to benefit the contractors,” Thackeray said.
He further said his party was not opposed to Kumbh Mela but to cutting of trees.
