Lucknow: The Sena apparently hopes to also win over north-Indians in Maharashtra where Assembly elections are due next year.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has already said that it was Sena that had demolished the Babri mosque in 17 minutes and then wondered why it was taking so long to bring legislation for construction of Ram temple — a clear attempt to take the credit for Babri demolition, even if it comes 26 years too late. On Saturday as chants of ‘Har Hindu ki yahi pukar, pehle mandir, phir sarkar’ touched a crescendo, a chartered plane carrying Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray landed in Ayodhya.
On his first visit to the temple town, Mr Thackeray was accompanied by wife Rashmi Thackeray and son Aditya. He was greeted by Shiv Sainiks who had reached Ayodhya prior to his arrival. Ayodhya was plastered with Shiv Sena posters and flags that screamed its slogan — ‘Pehle mandir, phir sarkar’, chants of which even drowned the usual slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
The Sena has been sharply critical of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their ‘failure’ to construct the Ram temple despite being in power for over four-and-a-half years.
Mr Uddhav Thackeray went to Laxman Qila where he met saints and seers and discussed the temple issue and participated in the ‘Aashirwad Samaroh’.
Later in the evening, Mr Thackeray and his family attended the Saryu ‘aarti’ on the banks of the Saryu.
In a significant move, the Shiv Sena chief asked Shiv Sainiks to return to Mumbai on Saturday night itself, leaving the field clear for VHP supporters on Sunday. Sources said that Mr Thackeray, on Sunday morning, will offer prayers at the makeshift Ram temple.
