Shiv Sena trains guns at RSS for November 25 rally in Ayodhya, VHP hits back

Targetting the Sangh, Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece Saamana, asked the RSS if such rallies can ensure the construction of the Ram temple the why hundreds of 'karsevaks' were sacrificed 25 years ago.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI: As the chorus for early construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya grows ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, political heavyweights have started targetting each other on the issue, which is being seen by many as their effort to woo the voters ahead of crucial polls. The latest salvo in the decades-long dispute was fired by the Shiv Sena on the RSS, which has given a call for a 'Hunkar' rally on November 25 for construction of Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. Targetting the Sangh, Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', asked the RSS if such rallies can ensure the construction of the Ram temple the why hundreds of 'karsevaks' were sacrificed 25 years ago. The RSS was suddenly reminded of the Ram Mandir after it came to know that Shiv Sena would go to Ayodhya on November 25, the Saamna editorial said. The Sena said it is going to Ayodhya not to show its power but to set Lord Rama free from 'jail'. Reacting to the editorial, the VHP said the Shiv Sena has no base in Uttar Pradesh and it should first concentrate on constructing a memorial of its founder Bal Thackeray and then think about the Ram temple. "Apart from politics, Sena has no base. How much work it has done for the Hindus? Has it ever taken up any non-political issue? Sena is a full-fledged political party while we are not," the international president of VHP Vishnu Kokaje said. Thackeray had announced at Sena's  Dussehra event that he will visit Ayodhya to ask PM Modi some questions pertaining to the construction of the Ram temple.