There is no question of seeking permission for a public rally in Ayodhya, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said on Thursday while clarifying that he is not visiting to play politics.
“I have stated right from the start that I am not going to hold a public rally in Ayodhya. I am going there to seek blessings from saints and participate in rituals along the Sarayu river and then offer worship to lord Ram,” the Sena chief said at Shivneri Fort, the birthplace of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Mr. Thackeray, who has often goaded his saffron ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), over the delay in constructing the Ram temple, has not been given the green signal to address a rally in Ayodhya by Yogi Adityanath’s government in Uttar Pradesh. Sena leaders claim they have been denied permission as the BJP fears the Sena has stolen a march on them over the emotive temple issue. “I have said several times in public rallies that [the BJP] brings up the Ram temple issue only during election time. How long will the BJP keep fooling people over this? I, too, want a definite answer as to when work on the temple finally commence. This is the object of my visit to Ayodhya,” Mr. Thackeray said.
The Sena chief took a handful of soil from the fort in an urn which he said he will be taking with him during his November 24-25 visit to Ayodhya. “Chhatrapati Shivaji is idolised by many Hindus. Hence, the soil of Shivaji’s birthplace perfectly encapsulates the emotions and the sentiments of our community. I hope that my visit there will expedite the Ram temple process,” Mr. Thackeray said.
