While daring the BJP-led Opposition in the State to “topple” his Government, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said here on Sunday though he would go to Ayodhya for the Ram Mandir’s bhoomi puja on August 5, it was unfortunate that because of corornavirus, lakhs of Hindus would not be able to attend the ceremony.
“Here we have banned the people from visiting temples because of coronaviris.. I may be going to Ayodhya, but lakhs of Ram bakths would like to attend the ceremony. What would you do about them? Will you allow them to attend the ceremony or stop them? Would you wittingly or unwittingly contribute to the spread of coronavirus? This is a happy moment. Many people would love to go there. What they can do is to have an e-bhoomi Puja of Ram Mandir,” Uddhav said.
In the second and final part of an interview published in the Shiv Sena mouth-piece “Saamana”, Uddhav said, “As a chief minister, I will go to Ayodhya. I have still not received the official programme of Ram Mandir Bhoomi Puja. I will formalise my programme after receiving the programme schedule. At the same time it is the wish of lakhs of people whose sentiments are attached with the Ram Mandir as they had participated in the Ram Mandir movement. A lot of Ram bhakts have given their blood during the struggle”.
Uddhav, who had gone to Ayodhya before and after becoming the chief minister of Maharashtra, said that he was attached to Ram Mandir like his father late Bal Thackeray and grandfather.
Speaking on wide-ranging issues during his interview, Uddhav challenged the BJP-led Opposition in the State to topple his government. He said that while his was a a “three-wheeler” government, he is firmly in control of its steering wheel.
“The future of my government is not in the hands of the opposition. The steering is in my hands. A three-wheeler (auto-rickshaw) is a vehicle of poor people. The other two are sitting behind,” Uddhav said. Uddhav said that his alliance partners in the MVA government - NCP and Congress – were “positive” and that he benefitting from the experience of the leaders in the two parties.
Taking an indirect pot shot at former chief minister and current leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP, Uddhav said: “Why wait for September-October to topple my government, as is being speculated. Topple the government right now since you get pleasure in toppling. Some people derive pleasure in constructive work while some are happy in destruction. If you feel happy in destruction, go ahead”.
“You say the MVA government was formed against the democratic principles but when you topple it, is it democracy?” Uddhav wondered.
Taking a snipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, Uddhav said: “A three-wheeler is a vehicle of poor people. If I were to choose between a bullet train and an auto-rickshaw, I would choose the auto-rickshaw. If people don’t want a bullet train, then it will not happen”.