New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday strongly criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray for his remarks on Ayodhya Ram temple and said that "he should apologise for his statement."
Furthermore, he asserted that not a single person would get harmed in Uttar Pradesh when the idol of Lord Ram will be installed in Ayodha Temple after 500 years.
"No one will get even a scratch in Uttar Pradesh when the Ram Lalla would be placed at his birthplace after 500 years. Law and order in Uttar Pradesh is in its place. Police are always active. He should apologise for his statement. People with such a mentality are aware that now that era has ended in Uttar Pradesh," he told reporters.
Earlier on Sunday, Thackeray warned of a possibility of a "Godhra-like" incident occurring during the return journey of attendees 'Karsevaks' expected to gather in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, from across the nation for the Ram Temple inauguration.
Addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Jalgaon, Thackeray said, "In the coming days, Ram Mandir will be inaugurated. There may be a possibility that many Hindus will be called from all over the country for the inauguration and after the ceremony is over, they can do something like the Godhra incident while the people return."
He was referring to the February 2002 incident, when the 'Karsevaks' returning from Ayodhya on board the Sabarmati Express were attacked, and their train coach was set on fire at Godhra station in Gujarat. This incident resulted in several casualties and triggered widespread riots across the state.
It is to be noted that the inauguration of the Ram Temple is expected to take place in January 2024, just months before the Lok Sabha elections.