Mumbai, July 5 -- Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday launched his "Ram Raksha" agitation over the alleged donation embezzlement at the Ayodhya Ram temple and said those looting Hindus are in power, seeking to corner the ruling BJP over Hindutva.
Addressing a rally outside the Hanuman temple in Dadar in central Mumbai, where he recited "Hanuman Stotra", "Hanuman Chalisa" and "Ram Raksha Stotra", Thackeray demanded an impartial probe into the matter.
"If anyone loots a temple by misusing Hindutva, then Hindus will not spare them," he said.
Thackeray also gave a call for a "BJP-mukt Ram", saying Lord Ram belongs to everyone.
The BJP hit back at Thackeray, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying he was glad that the Sena (UBT) chief had "finally remembered Ram" after allegedly abandoning the path shown by the Lord.
Speaking to reporters in Gadchiroli on the sidelines of a programme, Fadnavis said, "Our only expectation was that he should remember Ram. He had abandoned Ram's path. That's why his party declined. If he walks the path of Ram, it will be good for him. Not just today, I expect that he will recite 'Ram Raksha' every day."
Ever since Thackeray parted ways with the BJP in 2019 and aligned with the Congress, his former ally has repeatedly accused him of abandoning Hindutva. This was also one of the reasons that current Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had cited when he revolted against Thackeray in 2022 and split the Shiv Sena.
In his address, Thackeray alleged, "In the last 12 years, we thought our 'bhagwa' (saffron) government was in power. Atal ji (BJP stalwart and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) had said that now Hindus would not get beaten up. It is unfortunate that the people in power are looting Hindus."
Wearing a saffron kurta, Thackeray said a robber cannot be asked to probe the robbery committed by him. It has to be done impartially or else a clean chit will be given to everyone, he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.