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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has helped fulfill Balasaheb Thackeray’s dream to build a grand temple in Ayodhya, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Friday. His remarks came as he flagged off a special train from Thane to Ayodhya with thousands of party workers aboard.
Days before his visit to the temple town in Uttar Pradesh, he praised the Prime Minister. “PM Modi has resolved to build a grand Ram Mandir. I am thankful to him on behalf of all Hindu brothers. This is a matter of pride for all of us.” The Chief Minister’s visit along with his party MPs and MLAs is due for Sunday.
In a veiled attack on Uddhav Thackeray, he said, “Due to our visit, many people have started working. Those who sat at home are now forced to leave their house and do some work.”
Amid fanfare and slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji’, Shinde greeted a huge crowd of workers at the Thane railway station platform and those inside the train on Friday evening.
Surrounded by people carrying flags with Lord Ram’s images along with Shiv Sena’s ‘bow and arrow’ poll symbol, Shinde said, “With the blessings of Lord Ram, we have got the election symbol. We are all going to Ayodhya to seek blessings. It is a matter of faith for us,” he stressed. Shinde announced the Ayodhya visit after Election Commission’s decision in February on the dispute between him and Uddhav Thackeray over the party name and poll symbol.
He also recalled his earlier visit with Aaditya Thackeray last year. “Although many workers wanted to go to Ayodhya last time, they could not go. But this time, there is an atmosphere of great enthusiasm among all Shiv Sainiks,” Shinde asserted.
Along with his son and Kalyan Lok Sabha MP Srikant Shinde, he showed a green and then saffron flag to the special train that had a ‘Chalo Ayodhya’ (Let’s go to Ayodhya) board mounted on it
Shinde said two special trains carrying over 3,000 Sena workers left for Ayodhya on Friday
The Chief Minister will fly to Lucknow on Saturday evening. He will stay there before heading to Ayodhya on Sunday morning, people aware of the matter said. He will visit the under-construction Ram Temple on Sunday afternoon.
The workers who left by the special trains will welcome Shinde on Sunday morning. In a major show of strength, the CM is set to perform the aarti at the Sarayu River after meeting the Mahanta (head priest).
Last year, in June, Shinde visited Ayodhya to make arrangements for Aaditya Thacekray’s visit. A few days later, Shinde launched a revolt against Uddhav Thackeray, which led to the fall of his government.
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