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Uddhav Thackeray to visit Ayodhya to press Ram temple demand

“If you cannot construct Ram temple (in Ayodhya) then there is something wrong in your DNA,” the Shiv Sena chief tells the BJP.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on October 18 said that he will be visiting Ayodhya with a demand to build Ram temple on November 25.

“Every year we burn the effigy of Ravana, but he stands again every year. But do we see Ram temple standing? I am going to Ayodhya on November 25 to question (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi on his promise of building the Ram temple in Ayodhya,” said Mr. Thackeray, addressing his party’s annual Dussehra rally in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park.

“My first visit will only be the reminder. If nothing moves despite that, then I will have to take all the Hindus along to build the temple,” he warned. Taking a dig at Mr. Modi, the Sena chief asked whether the PM ever paid a visit to Ayodhya after being sworn in as the Prime Minister.

Mr. Thackeray, whose party is part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre and a part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra as well, said that he is the part of NDA because of Hindutva. “If you cannot construct Ram temple (in Ayodhya) then there is something wrong in your DNA,” he said, thanking Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat for raising the issue of Ram temple.

Slamming the BJP for its over-drive in election campaign, Mr. Thackeray asked whether the party also put the same amount of brain in discussing issues such as inflation, fuel price hike, atrocities against women. “If PM has to take his entire Cabinet for campaign in five States where election is sue, it is nothing but the defeat of BJP,” he taunted.

Contrary to expectations of him commenting on alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra, Mr. Thackeray chose to only attack the government for its delay in announcing drought in the State. “Look at Karnataka. It has already announced drought and begun measures. Nothing is happening in Maharashtra. Let me warn you. If no decision is taken at the earliest, the Sena will protest against its own government in Maharashtra,” he said.

Mr. Thackeray however made no comments on his party quitting the State government. “You all know what we are going to do in election. I don’t need to repeat it,” he said. He was referring to party’s already announced stand of contesting future polls on its own.