Raj Thackeray opposes cutting of trees for Sadhu Gram before Nashik Kumbh Mela

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday (Nov 29, 2025) opposed the state government’s plan to fell trees in Tapovan area of ​​Nashik for construction of Sadhu Gram ahead of the 2026 Kumbh Mela, warning that his party will support the citizens if the government adopts a confrontational stance.

The proposed Sadhu Gram is planned over about 1,000 to 1,200 hectares in Tapovan area of ​​Nashik, and according to municipal notices, around 1,800 trees have been marked for removal. Environmental groups and residents claim that some of these trees are more than a century old. A notice from the Nashik Municipal Corporation raising objections attracted hundreds of comments, and a recent hearing saw strong protests against the plan.

On November 24, the Nashik Municipal Corporation clarified that old and age-old trees will not be felled and only younger trees and shrubs will be removed.

Speaking to A Kumbh Mela was also held during the tenure of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena-led Municipal Corporation.

“During that time we built a lot of infrastructure. There was good communication between the corporations and the administration at that time, so what the people wanted was taken into account during the work,” he said.

He asserted that the government should not use the opportunity to force anything “down the throats of industrialists” in the name of sadhus. He also alleged that the BJP government had announced to plant a few crore trees a few years ago but they never did it.

“The BJP is gobbling up the land or acting as a broker for industrialists. Residents of Nashik are strongly against this. I appeal to the residents to remain firm. I assure that the MNS is with them. There is really no politics in it, even after the elections we will continue to oppose this,” he said.

He appealed to the ruling party and asked “not to unnecessarily escalate the conflict.”

Actor and activist Sayaji Shinde also opposed the plan and said, “Trees are our parents. Not a single tree should be cut for Sadhu Gram.”

Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal alleged that the government’s concern over sadhus was just a facade.

“Sadhus traditionally lived in the middle of nature, in hills, forests and mountains. Destroying thousands of trees in the name of their convenience serves no purpose. The real motive is to clear land and siphon off money. Cutting down trees is just an excuse,” Mr Sapkal said.