Uddhav announces movement against theft of Ram Temple donations

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray announced that his party will launch a protest movement against the theft of Ram Temple donations, which he alleged were used to purchase Opposition MPs, engineer their defections and split these organisations.

Speaking at a press conference at his ‘Matoshree’ residence here on Friday, Uddhav Thackeray said, “The BJP has carried out an ‘Operation Ram Mandir’ to break MPs and MLAs away from their political parties. They looted money from the donation box of the Ram temple.”

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He informed that as part of the movement Shiv Sena leaders would visit the Hanuman Temple in Mumbai’s Dadar West on Sunday evening to recite the Ram Raksha Stotra, Maruti Stotra and Hanuman Chalisa and tell the people there what the BJP has done. “We expect all Ram bhakts (devotees) angry about the loot of donations in the name of the Ram Temple to participate in the stir. We invite everyone, regardless of political affiliation, to join the movement against the loot of Ram Temple donations across the state,” Thackeray said.

Claiming there is evidence of the theft from the donation box, he said some people alleged the stolen money is being used to break political parties. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee once said that Hindus will no longer be victims. Today, I say Hindus will no longer forgive those looting temples,” he asserted.

Uddhav Thackeray demanded strict action against those allegedly involved in looting Ram temple donations, saying that looting in the name of Hindutva will not be tolerated. “Shiv Sainiks participated in the Ram Temple movement along with many Hindus. Everybody remembers the atrocities perpetrated on kar sevaks during the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation movement. Hindus made sacrifices and endured several hardships, including the Godhra train burning, the Ahmedabad riots and the Mumbai serial bomb blasts. The BJP politically benefited from these events and now it is enjoying unchecked power.”

He alleged that despite the BJP being in power at the Centre and in several states, people across the country continue to face hardships. The BJP’s Ram Janmabhoomi era slogan of “Mandir Wahi Banayenge” proved a facade. The sacrifices made by Hindus during the Ram temple movement would not be allowed to go in vain.