"Parted Ways With BJP, Not Hindutva": Uddhav Thackeray Pledges Rs 1 Cr For Ram Temple In Ayodhya

On his break-up with his long-standing ally the Bharatiya Janata Party, Uddhav Thackeray said that though he is no longer associated with the BJP, he is not separated from Hindutva. “BJP does not mean Hindutva, both are different.”

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray speaks to reporters in Ayodhya.

Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh): Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray visited Ayodhya with his family and pledged Rs 1 crore from his trust for the construction of Ram temple. He said the amount is being donated from his trust and not from the state government’s funds in which his ideologically different partners Congress and NCP also have a say in. Thackeray and his family is in Ayodhya to pay obeisance at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple as Maharashtra's coalition government completes 100 days in office. Speaking in Ayodhya, Thackeray said, "Today, I want to announce that not from the state govt, but from my trust, I offer an amount of Rs. 1 crore for the construction of Ram Temple here. It is just a small contribution from our part." Thackeray said, "It is an honour for me to come here. When I first came here it was not known when and how the Ram temple would be built here. I am here to seek blessings of Ram Lalla. It is my third visit in the last one and a half years. I will also offer prayers here today.” Thackeray said he would give the Saryu arti a miss because of the coronavirus outbreak "I also wished to take a dip in the Saryu River, but as you know in the whole world these days there is an outbreak of coronavirus. And yesterday I urged people of my state to stay away from crowded areas. So I am not participating in the 'Aarti', but I will come back for it again," he was quoted by ANI. On his break-up with his long-standing ally the Bharatiya Janata Party, Thackeray said that though he is no longer associated with the BJP, he is not separated from Hindutva. “BJP does not mean Hindutva, both are different.”