Ahead of his visit to Ayodhya during the weekend, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday singled out the BJP for an attack over the Ram Mandir issue, seeking to know if the principal ruling party's promise of constructing Ram temple was another “jumla” like its “Rs 15 lakh bank deposit” promise.
“It is only during the election time that the BJP remembers the construction of Ram Mandir. Once the elections are over the BJP forgets the issue. Just like Rs 15 lakh deposit and Ache Din promises, should we look at the BJP’s promise of Ram Mandir as another jumla?,” Uddhav asked.
Uddhav, who is due to visit Ayodhya during the weekend to press for the early construction of the Ram temple, hit back at the Opposition parties for criticising him for his plan to visit Ayodhya in the run-up to Lok Sabha elections.
“I am being criticised for visiting Ayodhya now. Since I have raised the Ram Mandir issue in the run-up to the elections, let the Opposition parties criticise me. All I can tell them that the Ram Mandir definitely becomes an issue during the elections,” the Sena president said.
Uddhav made these remarks at a function organised for the release of a special Diwali magazine brought out by a television journalists’ organisation.
As per the itinerary of his Ayodhya released by the Shiv Sena, Uddhav will perform aarti at Sarayu river on Saturday, while on Sunday, he will visit the disputed site and take darshans of Ram-lalla.
Two of his emissaries - Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, who is the leader of Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party, and Public Works Department Minister Eknath Shinde are already camping in UP and meeting the officials in Lucknow and Ayodhya.
It may be recalled that at the Sena’s Dussehra rally held at Shivaji Park on October 18, Uddhav had made an announcement about his plans to visit to Ayodhya.
Mincing no words against the Narendra Modi government for its failure to keep its promises, including the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, Uddhav had said: “You (the ruling BJP) have so many false promises to the people that the country is on the verge of erupting like a volcano.... You promised that you would deposit Rs 15 lakh in the bank accounts of everyone. Later on you said that promise was a jumla. My challenge to you shameless fellows: either you fellows build Ram Mandir or declare the repeated promise to this effect was a jumla. Then we will see what is to be done".
“Hence I have decided that I will go to Ayodya on November 25. We have nothing against Modi. But I would like to tell him not to play with the sentiments of the people. This is not a normal promise. This concerns Lord Sri Ram. You have been touring all over the world. But, I would like to know from Modi as to why he has not found time to visit Ayodhya during the last four and half years?,” the Sena president had asked.
