Ayodhya visit is not political, says Aaditya
Pawam Dixit
LUCKNOW: Maharashtra environment minister and Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray on Wednesday paid obeisance to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya and said his arrival is not associated with politics.
“My Ayodhya visit is purely religious. It has nothing to do with politics,” said Thackeray, parrying questions on the Gyanvapi mosque row and the Krishna Janmabhoomi case in Mathura.
On the banks of river Saryu, Aditya performed an ‘aarti’ in the evening with Vedic rituals amid thousands of Shiv Sena workers, who arrived from Mumbai by special trains.
“Ayodhya is the centre of faith in India. In 2018, we gave this slogan – first temple, then government. After Shiv Sena’s slogan, the way for the construction of the temple was cleared. Now, Ram temple is being built on the orders of the Supreme Court,” he told reporters.
“We will pray to Lord Rama to give us the strength to serve the people better,” he added.
Thackeray also pointed out that the Maharashtra government wanted a piece of land in Ayodhya for constructing Maharashtra Sadan for devotees from the state. “Maharashtra CM Udhav Thackeray will take up the issue with the Uttar Pradesh chief minister,” said Thackeray.
Asked about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioning of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Thackeray termed all central agencies “as a tool for advertisement for the Modi government”.
“All the central agencies have become prachar sahitya (advertisement literature),” Thackeray said.
Earlier in the day, Thackeray visited Ram Janmabhoomi to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla, where he also sought blessings from Acharya Satyendra Das, the head priest. Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut and other party leaders were also present.
Before visiting Ram Janmabhoomi, Thackeray also went to Hanuman Garhi temple, where he met Mahant Gyan Das, the former head of Akhara Parishad.
Meanwhile, Raju Das, a priest of Hanuman Garhi temple, opposed Aditya Thackeray’s visit, saying that it was a ‘political stunt’.
“Aditya Thackeray is most welcome in Ayodhya. But the question is about Shiv Sena’s reaction on the issue of loudspeakers and Hanuman Chalisa in Maharashtra,” said Das.
“In Maharashtra, people are sent to jail for 14 days for reciting Hanuman Chalisa. What message does Aditya Thackeray want to give from Ayodhya?” Raju Das asked.
”In Maharashtra, Shiv Sena does something else, while outside it is different,” he said. Responding to Raju Das, Thackeray said all saints, akharas and people of Ayodhya welcomed him.
Thackeray’s visit to Ayodhya is being seen as an effort by the Shiv Sena to ward off allegations from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of going soft on the issue of Hindutva.
Thackeray’s uncle and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray was scheduled to visit Ayodhya on June 5. But the visit was cancelled due to health reasons.
This was the Thackeray scion’s third visit to Ayodhya. He had accompanied his father and current Maharashtra chief minister Udhav Thackeray to Ayodhya on two occasions, November 24, 2018, and March 7, 2020.
Ayodhya is the centre of faith in India. In 2018, we gave this slogan – first temple, then government... Now, Ram temple is being built AADITYA THACKERAY, Environment minister, Maharashtra