Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has slammed the BJP for not inviting Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray at the opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2023. He said that Thackeray was being denied his rightful place as a leader of a major political party and a champion of the Ram temple movement.
Raut, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said that Thackeray had every right to attend the ceremony as he had supported the Supreme Court’s verdict in favour of building the Ram temple at the disputed site. He said that Thackeray had also visited Ayodhya several times in the past and had expressed his solidarity with the people there.
Raut also accused the BJP of trying to create a rift between him and Thackeray over the issue. He said that he and Thackeray were on one page and shared a common vision for Maharashtra and India. He said that he had always respected Thackeray’s decisions and opinions, even when they differed on some matters.
Raut said that he was disappointed by the BJP’s snub to Thackeray, who is one of their key allies in Maharashtra. He said that Thackeray deserved to be treated with dignity and respect by his partners in power. He said that he hoped that the BJP would reconsider its decision and invite Thackeray to join them in celebrating this historic occasion.
The Ram temple in Ayodhya is one of the most contentious issues in Indian politics, especially between Hindus and Muslims. The temple was built by Lord Ram on the site where a 16th-century mosque stood before it was demolished by Hindu activists in 1992. The demolition sparked communal riots across India that killed thousands of people.
The construction of the Ram temple began in 2019 after an earthquake damaged some parts of it. The work was completed in December 2022 after five years of delay due to legal hurdles, protests, and Covid-19 pandemic. The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, several BJP leaders, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and other dignitaries from various faiths.
