After a year of the public exchequer bearing the burden of the Rs 1 lakh a month it takes to keep Bal Thackeray’s memorial torch burning at Shivaji Park, the Shiv Sena has now approached oil companies to foot the bill through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. While this means taxpayers will no longer have to pay, is keeping the flame alive really a CSR cause?

What one cannot fathom is why the Sena cannot bear the cost itself, when the memorial was built to honour the party founder. The Sena claims much love, devotion and dedication to the principles of Thackeray. Then, why not put their money where their mouth is, and foot the bill themselves?