Uddhav Thackeray, head of the Shiv Sena (UBT) and former chief minister of Maharashtra, has received an invitation to attend the Ram temple consecration event in Ayodhya via speed post, news agency PTI reported. Sanjay Raut, a Sena (UBT) MP, criticised the government for how the Thackeray family was treated. Maharashtra minister Uday Samant, a member of the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, stated that speed post is utilised to guarantee that the invitation reaches the recipient sooner, and that this has been accomplished.
However, Raut responded aggressively to the speed post invitation stating: "You worship Lord Ram, and rule like Ravan (demon king). Lord Ram will curse you. All film stars are invited but the Thackeray family that has been closely associated with movement is treated in such a manner." Uddhav Thackeray will be in Nashik on a two-day visit beginning Monday..
On Monday, he would pray at the Kalaram temple and perform a'maha aarti' on the banks of the Godavari River.
On Tuesday, he will attend a day-long conference of his party in Nashik.
The much-anticipated Ram temple consecration will take place in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday in a magnificent ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after which the shrine will be available to the public the following day.
While the vast list of invitees includes over 7,000 people, only 506 are A-listers.
Those attending the "Pran Prathishtha" include those involved in the temple movement at Ram Janmabhoomi.
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, business tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar are among the notable guests.
Almost all opposition figures invited to the ceremony have rejected to attend, with the Congress labelling it a BJP-RSS gathering.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Indo-Nepal coordination committee met at the command centre of the 42nd Battalion, SSB, near the Indo-Nepal border. Officials from neighbouring areas in India and Nepal assessed security plans ahead of the Pran Pratishtha celebration in Ayodhya and Republic Day on January 26.