‘First mandir, then govt’

Intensifying Shiv Sena’s agitation to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya, party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday gave a new slogan saying government will be formed only after construction of the temple.

“Har Hindu ki yahi pukar, pehle mandir fir sarkar' (Every Hindu has one demand, temple first and then government),” said Thackeray addressing a press conference at Shiv Sena Bhavan at Dadar after meeting with senior leaders of the Sena on Sunday. He took stock of the preparations of his visit to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on November 24 and 25.

Thackeray has been aggressively campaigning for the Ram temple in Ayodhya since the party's annual Dussehra rally last month. Sena has left no opportunity to target the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) taunting it over its failure to construct the temple despite having mentioned it in the party's manifesto for 2014 elections.

Thackeray also asked the party workers to conduct mahaaarati (grand puja) all over the state as well in parts of the country where Sena has its presence on the evening of November 24.

Thackeray will be conducting the Sharayu puja on November 24 at the banks of river Sharayu. “All sainiks will also perform the puja on the same day and same time,” said Thackeray.

On November 25, he will address sants and mahants after performing pooja at Ayodhya temple. According to Sanjay Raut, party spokesperson. “Sant are eager to meet Uddhav at Ayodhya. He would be the first person from Thackeray family who will visit Ayodhya.”

Raosaheb Danve, state president of BJP has welcomed decision of Uddhav to Ayodhya.