Mumbai: Amid demands from the BJP that a memorial for late singer Lata Mangeshkar be set up at Dadar’s Shivaji Park, environment minister Aaditya Thackeray has said a decision should be taken after adiscussion with her family.

“Demands are being made (for a memorial) but it is important to note that she was such a towering figure. Let four-five days pass, then after discussing with the family...a memorial must be made to suit her stature. This must not happen in a hurry but should be fitting to her stature. After one or two days, we can discuss with the family and see what they want,” Aaditya said.

The MNS on Tuesday said the historic Shivaji Park should not be sacrificed for party politics. Taking to Twitter, MNS functionary Sandeep Deshpande said: “Dadar residents have fought long and hard to protect the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park from encroachment. The residents want the park to remain an open playground. It is my humble appeal that Shivaji Park should not be sacrificed for petty party politics.”

Prakash Ambedkar, president of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), also demanded that the park’s identity should be retained. “They must not turn Shivaji Park into a cremation ground. Let Shivaji Park retain its distinct identity and remain an open ground,” Ambedkar said.

BJP MLA and spokesperson Ram Kadam in a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had demanded a memorial be built in Mangeshkar’s memory at the very place where she was cremated. “This request is from her fans, music lovers and her well-wishers,” he said in his letter.