Shinde will worship on the banks of Saryu

Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Sunday that he along with his party leaders would visit Ayodhya on April 9 and offer prayers there on the banks of the Saryu river. Significantly, a grand Ram temple is being constructed in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. He made this announcement during a press conference at Anand Ashram in Thane. Shinde said, ‘I will go to Ayodhya on April 9 with my party’s ministers, MLAs, MPs and other officials. We will see the construction of the Ram temple and perform ‘aarti’ on the banks of the Saryu river. Shinde said that Maharashtra is contributing ‘saag’ (teak) wood for the construction of the Ram temple.

The Chief Minister said, ‘When the car service was being done (for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple), my guru Anand Dighe had sent a silver brick to Ayodhya. We have an old connection with Ayodhya and Lord Ram. Shinde said that all the ministers and leaders of his party who could not go on the Ayodhya Yatra last time (during the tenure of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government) would accompany him this time.

The Election Commission’s decision in February was a big blow for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction. The Election Commission recognized the Shinde-led faction as the real Shiv Sena and gave it the party’s election symbol of ‘arrow and bow’. Referring to the party’s election symbol, Shinde said, “We have never considered the bow and arrow as a weapon to be used against others. Lord Ram also wears a bow and arrow, so there is pressure on us to do well.” Without naming Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde said Shiv Sena president Bal Thackeray’s intention behind handing over the ‘Shiv Dhanush’ was that he Live the legacy. “But they could not handle it and so now it has come to us,” he said.

Hitting out at Thackeray, Shinde said, “He only thought of his own benefit, that of his family and those close to him, ignoring party workers.” On the occasion, the chief minister also said that as per the pre-planned plan, Maharashtra would be shifted to Uttar Pradesh. House will be built. On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comment on Veer Damodar Savarkar, Shinde said it was unfortunate that Bal Thackeray, whom he nurtured, joined hands with one who insulted the late Hindutva ideologue.
Responding to a question on the recent riots in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (old Aurangabad), Shinde said attempts to disturb peace in the state would be dealt with sternly. He said, “I have instructed the police department to deal with such situation strictly.” The Chief Minister said that although the cases of Kovid-19 are increasing in the state, the infection is mild. He said, “But the state government will not take any laxity and every possible effort is being made to ensure that proper medical facilities are available to the people.”