The Shiv Sena-nominated member in the city's Tree Authority, Hanumant Raje, has reportedly made the demand before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).. (Picture for Representational purposes)

The Shiv Sena , which turns 50 on Friday, wants only trees that are holy and sacred to Hindu culture to be planted across Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena-nominated member in the city's Tree Authority, Hanumant Raje, has reportedly made the demand before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). According to Raje, trees such as the peepal, banyan, sweet lime, ashoka, tamarind, kadamba, bakul, khari, deodar, palas, chandan, belpatri, arjun and rudrakasha are holy and sacred to Hindu culture and should be planted across the metropolis.

"Our culture is itself is based on nature and its elements. It is the most environment friendly. The importance of trees in our culture is unique," Raje told city-based tabloid Mumbai Mirror. "Many of the trees that are referred in epics have medicinal values and can purify the air. The BMC must plant such trees so that they are preserved and people don't hack them easily."

Raje, a horticulturist, justified his demand, saying that these trees have special mention in the epics and are culturally relevant. He also said that the BMC should put up boards providing scientific and medicinal information about the trees as youngsters today do not have much knowledge about them.

Reacting to the proposal, the BMC said they would discuss the matter in their next meeting and added that it prefers trees that require less water and are easy to maintain.

The Shiv Sena, which was founded on June 19, 1966 in Mumbai, faces the challenge of positioning itself as "numero uno" in Maharashtra again as it turn 50 on Friday.

"At present because of peculiar circumstances, Shiv Sena is playing second fiddle," Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut told PTI, in an apparent reference to former ally BJP upstaging it as the dominant partner.

Raut said Shiv Sena was on the threshold of achieving a milestone as it prepares to celebrate its golden jubilee.