Uddhav Thackeray: 'Will visit Ayodhya on Nov 25 with saffron flag for Ram temple'

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said he will visit Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya to remind the BJP of its poll promise of constructing Ram temple.

Uddhav Thackeray. (Image: PTI/File)

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said he will undertake a visit to Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya to remind the BJP of its poll promise of constructing Ram temple at the disputed site believed to the birthplace of Lord Rama, where Babri Masjid once stood. Thackeray said his party feels saddened that the Ram temple has not yet taken a shape, adding that if the BJP cannot construct the temple, the Shiv Sena will. "We warn everyone who thinks that Hindutva has died. We are still alive. We are saddened that Ram Mandir has not been constructed yet," Thackeray said as he announced his visit to Ayodhya "with a saffron flag in hand" on November 25 while addressing a gathering of party workers here in a Dussehra event. Thackeray also demanded that an ordinance should be brought in the Parliament to ensure the Ram temple at the disputed site. "The BJP should clarify to the public whether the Ram Mandir promise is a 'jumla'. If it is one, then the Shiv Sena will take care of it," he said. Taking about RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who is his Vijaya Dashami speech demanded a law for Ram temple, Thackeray said he welcome his statement on this issue. Thackeray said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his cabinet ministers, BJP Chief Ministers and all others were camping in the five states where elections shall be held next month. "This itself is a big defeat for you. Instead of concentrating on developmental works and fulfilling the promises of 2014, the government is washing its hands off (the promises)," he said. Thackeray recalled how when he questioned Union Minister Ravi Shanker Prasad on the 'monstrous' hikes in petrol-diesel-cooking gas rates, the Minister shrugged his shoulders and said: "It's not in our hands." "What do you mean? You have Lord Vishnu's 11th 'avatar' with you but you cannot stop inflation and galloping fuel prices and zooming US dollar rates? If you can't do this, then why are you sticking to power? It appears the NDA's DNA is defective," Thackeray said. He reiterated how "the petrol pumps and gas cylinders now appear to be Ravana" to the people burdened by steep prices, but the government had not taken any measures to control them despite a nationwide outcry. Referring to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement that since the BJP never expected to win the 2014 elections, it made all kinds of promises but now they were stuck. "You should have thought carefully before speaking. But having made the promises, you should have sacrificed your lives to keep your word. That is Maharashtra's culture. But they are shameless and have simply lied, lied and lied to the country. Remember, the country is sitting on the tip of a volcano which can erupt anytime with disastrous consequences," Thackeray declared. (With inputs from IANS)