Uddhav Thackeray led chants of the Ram Raksha Stotra and Hanuman Chalisa, turning a religious ritual into a pointed political protest against alleged mismanagement of Ram Temple funds.
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Shiv Sena UBT hit the streets of Mumbai on Sunday with a protest that mixes politics with religion. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray led the charge himself, alleging that funds donated at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have gone missing.
The demonstration unfolded near the Hanuman Temple at Dadar Kabutarkhana in Mumbai. This spot has long held political significance for the Thackeray family, making it a fitting location for this particular show of strength.
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Thackeray personally led party workers and Shiv Sainiks in reciting the Ram Raksha Stotra, the Hanuman Stotra, and the Hanuman Chalisa during the gathering.
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Speaking at a press conference at his residence ahead of the protest, Thackeray directly accused the BJP of failing to ensure proper accountability for donations made by devotees at the Ram Temple.
He did not hold back his language, alleging that money offered by devotees had effectively been robbed. He demanded transparency from authorities regarding how temple funds are being managed and tracked.
Thackeray made a point of extending the protest invitation beyond his own party’s base. He asked citizens to join regardless of their political affiliation, framing the issue as one that should matter to every devotee, not just Shiv Sena UBT supporters.
His appeal was direct. He said he was inviting every Hindu who could not tolerate what he called theft happening in the house of Lord Ram. He specifically called out to those who have not abandoned Hindutva or the ideology associated with Balasaheb Thackeray, urging them to join in reciting the Ram Raksha Stotra, Hanuman Stotra, and Hanuman Chalisa together.
This protest comes at a particularly difficult time for Shiv Sena UBT. The party has faced a string of setbacks recently, including the defection of six Members of Parliament toward the Eknath Shinde led faction of Shiv Sena.
Adding to the party’s troubles, senior leader and close Thackeray aide Sachin Ahir recently exited the party as well, further denting the party’s political standing.
A day before the demonstration, Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut spoke publicly about the party’s plans. He confirmed the timing and location, announcing that the protest would take place at 4 pm at the Hanuman Temple in Dadar, specifically targeting alleged loot and theft connected to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Raut confirmed Thackeray would be present at the protest and said thousands of Ram devotees were likely to turn up. He appealed to anyone with faith in Lord Ram to join the gathering.
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