Editing Bal Thackeray (section)

== Death ==
[[File:Bal Thackeray and Madhuri Dixit at 70th Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards (4).jpg|thumb|Thackeray with actress [[Madhuri Dixit]] in 2012 shortly before his death]]
Thackeray died on 17 November 2012, of [[cardiac arrest]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Mumbai Bureau |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/bal-thackeray-passes-away/article4105003.ece |title=States / Other States : Bal Thackeray passes away; funeral on Sunday |newspaper=The Hindu |date=15 November 2012 |location=Chennai, India |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116010611/http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/bal-thackeray-passes-away/article4105003.ece |archive-date=16 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Mumbai came to a virtual halt immediately as news about his death broke out, with shops and commercial establishments shutting down.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mankikar |first1=Sayli Udas |last2=Ghoge |first2=Ketaki |title=Mumbai shuts down as Bal Thackeray makes final journey today |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Mumbai-shuts-down-as-Bal-Thackeray-makes-final-journey-today/Article1-960828.aspx |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=18 November 2012 |location=Mumbai, India |access-date=18 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118024629/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Mumbai-shuts-down-as-Bal-Thackeray-makes-final-journey-today/Article1-960828.aspx |archive-date=18 November 2012 }}</ref> The entire state of Maharashtra was put on high alert. The police appealed for calm and 20,000 [[Mumbai police]] officers, 15 units of the State Reserve Police Force and three contingents of the [[Rapid Action Force]] were deployed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_security-beefed-up-across-maharashtra_1765851 |title=Security beefed up across Maharashtra |agency=Press Trust of India |newspaper=DNA India |access-date=17 November 2012}}</ref> It was reported that Shiv Sena workers forced shops to close down in some areas.<ref name="Time world" /> Then Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]] called for calm in the city and praised Thackeray's "strong leadership", while there were also statements of praise and condolences from other senior politicians such as the then-Gujarat Chief Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and the BJP leader and MP (Former Deputy Prime Minister of India), [[L. K. Advani]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Traders-bandh-in-Maharashtra-tomorrow-to-pay-homage-to-Bal-Thackeray/Article1-960974.aspx |title=Traders bandh in Maharashtra tomorrow to pay homage to Bal Thackeray |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=18 November 2012 |agency=Press Trust of India |access-date=19 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118125642/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Traders-bandh-in-Maharashtra-tomorrow-to-pay-homage-to-Bal-Thackeray/Article1-960974.aspx |archive-date=18 November 2012 }}</ref>

He was accorded a [[state funeral]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/State-funeral-CM-went-by-peoples-sentiments/articleshow/17286438.cms |title=State funeral: CM went by people's sentiments |first=Bharti |last=Jain |date=20 November 2012 |access-date=3 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131210204608/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-20/mumbai/35227624_1_public-holiday-state-funerals-minister |archive-date=10 December 2013 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |url-status=live }}</ref> at [[Shivaji Park]], which generated some controversy<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_thackeray-funeral-at-public-ground-shivaji-park-sparks-debate_1766308 |title=Thackeray funeral at 'public ground' Shivaji Park sparks debate |date=19 November 2012 |newspaper=DNA India |access-date=7 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127223552/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_thackeray-funeral-at-public-ground-shivaji-park-sparks-debate_1766308 |archive-date=27 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and resulted from demands made by Shiv Sena.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Demand-for-Thackeray-memorial-at-Shivaji-Park/Article1-961196.aspx |title=Demand for Thackeray memorial at Shivaji Park |newspaper=Hindustan Times |first=Sayli Udas |last=Mankikar |date=19 November 2012 |access-date=7 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128221906/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/Demand-for-Thackeray-memorial-at-Shivaji-Park/Article1-961196.aspx |archive-date=28 November 2012 }}</ref> It was the first public funeral in the city since that of [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] in 1920.<ref>{{cite news |title=State funeral for Bal Thackeray, calm city lines up |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/state-funeral-for-bal-thackeray-calm-city-lines-up/1032864 |work=The Financial Express |access-date=29 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202922/https://www.financialexpress.com/news/state-funeral-for-bal-thackeray-calm-city-lines-up/1032864 |archive-date=29 October 2013  }}</ref> Thackeray's body was moved to the park on 18 November.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/bal-thackeray-passes-away-mumbai-remains-shut/articleshow/17265776.cms |title=Bal Thackeray passes away: Mumbai remains shut |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=18 November 2012 |access-date=19 November 2012}}</ref> Many mourners attended his funeral, although there were no official figures. The range reported in media sources varied from around 1 million,<ref name="DC20121119">{{cite news |date=19 November 2012 |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/121119/news-current-affairs/article/maha-end-tiger-journey |title=Maha end to Tiger journey |newspaper=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=19 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130111171028/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/121119/news-current-affairs/article/maha-end-tiger-journey |archive-date=11 January 2013 }}</ref> to 1.5 million<ref>{{cite news |date=19 November 2012 |title=Mumbai returns to normal after Bal Thackeray funeral |work=BBC News |access-date=30 November 2012 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-20390081}}</ref> and as many as nearly 2 million.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/video/nearly-20-lakh-people-join-the-funeral-procession-of-shiv-sena-supremo-bal-thackeray-as-mumbai-comes-to-a-standstill/1/229716.html |title=Nearly 20 lakh people join the funeral procession of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray as Mumbai comes to a standstill |magazine=India Today |date=18 November 2012 |access-date=19 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119095529/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/video/nearly-20-lakh-people-join-the-funeral-procession-of-shiv-sena-supremo-bal-thackeray-as-mumbai-comes-to-a-standstill/1/229716.html |archive-date=19 November 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> His cremation took place the next day, where his son Uddhav lit the pyre.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/bal-thackerays-funeral-cortege-leaves-for-shivaji-park_811455.html |title=Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray cremated, Uddhav lights funeral pyre |publisher=Zee News |date=19 November 2012 |access-date=7 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221222054/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/bal-thackerays-funeral-cortege-leaves-for-shivaji-park_811455.html |archive-date=21 December 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Among those present at his cremation were senior representatives of the [[Government of Maharashtra|Maharashtra government]] and the event was broadcast live on national television channels.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-18/india/35185749_1_funeral-procession-uddhav-bal-thackeray |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103072152/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-18/india/35185749_1_funeral-procession-uddhav-bal-thackeray |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2013 |title=Bal Thackeray's funeral procession gets massive live TV coverage |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=19 November 2012 |access-date=7 December 2012}}</ref> The Parliament of India opened for its winter session on 21 November 2012. Thackeray was the only non-member to be noted in its traditional list of obituaries. He is one of few people to have been recorded thus without being a member of either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=DNA India |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_bal-thackeray-only-non-mp-to-get-obituary-reference-in-parliament_1768110 |title=Bal Thackeray only non-MP to get obituary reference in Parliament |date=22 November 2012|agency=Indo-Asian News Service |access-date=7 December 2012}}</ref> Despite having not held any official position, he was given the [[21-gun salute]], which was again a rare honour.<ref name="Zee news">{{cite news |title=Shiv Sena pays Rs 5 lakh for Bal Thackeray's funeral expenses |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/maharashtra/shiv-sena-pays-rs-5-lakh-for-bal-thackeray-s-funeral-expenses_850513.html |publisher=24 May 2013. Zee Media Bureau |access-date=29 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619020704/http://zeenews.india.com/news/maharashtra/shiv-sena-pays-rs-5-lakh-for-bal-thackeray-s-funeral-expenses_850513.html |archive-date=19 June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Both houses of [[Bihar]] Assembly also paid tribute.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/bihar/bihar-assembly-pays-tribute-to-bal-thackeray_813570.html |title=Bihar Assembly pays tribute to Bal Thackeray |publisher=Zeenews.india.com |date=29 November 2012 |access-date=14 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202222/http://zeenews.india.com/news/bihar/bihar-assembly-pays-tribute-to-bal-thackeray_813570.html |archive-date=29 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://news.in.msn.com/national/bihar-assembly-pays-tribute-to-sena-chief-bal-thackeray |title=Bihar assembly pays tribute to Sena chief Bal Thackeray |publisher=MSN |date=29 November 2012 |access-date=14 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201161152/http://news.in.msn.com/national/bihar-assembly-pays-tribute-to-sena-chief-bal-thackeray |archive-date=1 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bihar-assembly-pays-tribute-to-shiv-sena-chief-bal-thackeray/308027-3.html |title=Bihar Assembly pays tribute to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray |publisher=Ibnlive.in.com |access-date=14 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206144000/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bihar-assembly-pays-tribute-to-shiv-sena-chief-bal-thackeray/308027-3.html |archive-date=6 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The funeral expenses created further controversies when media reports claimed that the [[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation|BMC]] had used taxpayers' money. In response to these reports, the party later sent a cheque of Rs. 500,000 to the corporation.<ref name="Zee news" />

''[[The Hindu]],'' in an editorial, said regarding the shutdown that "Thackeray’s legion of followers raised him to the status of a demigod who could force an entire State to shut down with the mere threat of violence".<ref>{{Cite news |title=A troubling legacy |url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-troubling-legacy/article4108876.ece |newspaper=The Hindu |date=19 November 2012 |issn=0971-751X |language=en-IN |access-date=7 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520103655/http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-troubling-legacy/article4108876.ece |archive-date=20 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following his death, police arrested a 21-year-old woman who posted a Facebook comment against him, as well as her friend who "liked" the comment. Shiv Sena members also vandalised the clinic owned by the woman's relative.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Anup |last=Kaphle |title=Who was Bal Thackeray and why did Mumbai come to a standstill this weekend? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2012/11/19/who-is-bal-thackeray-and-why-did-mumbai-come-to-a-standstill-this-weekend/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=19 November 2012 |issn=0190-8286 |language=en-US |access-date=7 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160223062700/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2012/11/19/who-is-bal-thackeray-and-why-did-mumbai-come-to-a-standstill-this-weekend/ |archive-date=23 February 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>