Ayodhya verdict: No party can take credit for Supreme Court judgment, Shiv Sena jabs BJP

Hindustan Times, Mumbai | By
Nov 09, 2019 12:43 PM IST

Speaking minutes before the Supreme Court pronounced the verdict, Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the issue of the construction of a Ram Temple in place of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was lying in “cold storage”.

The Shiv Sena on Saturday reiterated that neither the Centre nor any political party can take credit for the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit dispute in Ayodhya.

Sanjay Raut talks to reportersin Mumbai on November 4, 2019. (Photo by Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times)(Kunal Patil/HT Photo)
Sanjay Raut talks to reportersin Mumbai on November 4, 2019. (Photo by Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times)(Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

Speaking minutes before the Supreme Court pronounced the verdict, Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that the issue of the construction of a Ram Temple in place of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was lying in “cold storage”. He added that Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray gave a push to the issue by speaking about it and visiting Ayodhya twice in the last 30 months.

Click here for live updates

Raut said that those eager to take credit for their leaders had said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had nothing to do with the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. “That time one man, [Shiv Sena founder] Balasaheb Thackeray, openly said that if Shiv Sainiks had done it, he was proud of it,” said Raut.

Shiv Sena and the BJP have been at loggerheads over the government formation in Maharashtra since the election results were announced in the state on October 24. The Sena has insisted on rotating the chief minister’s post saying that the two parties have agreed to it before the April-May national elections as part of a “50-50” power-sharing agreement.

Devendra Fadnavis, who has maintained that no “50-50 formula” had been agreed to, resigned as Maharashtra chief minister on Friday amid a war of words between the BJP and the Shiv Sena as they could not form a government before the term of the last assembly ended.

Raut said that the verdict is important for the party as many Shiv Sainiks have sacrificed their lives for the issue. “Shiv Sena’s contribution to the Ram Janmabhoomi struggle has been immense and many Sainiks have sacrificed their lives. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has kept the issue alive by visiting Ayodhya twice... therefore, his contribution is also crucial. The government cannot take credit...,” he said.

Uddhav Thackeray, too, on Friday said that the BJP-led Union government cannot take “credit” for the Supreme Court’s much-awaited Ayodhya verdict. “We had requested the government to make a law on the construction of Ram Temple [in Ayodhya] but the government did not do that. Now, when the SC is going to pronounce the verdict, the government cannot take credit for it....”

Get Latest India Newsalong with Latest Newsand Top Headlinesfrom India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Swapnil Rawal is Principal Correspondent with the Hindustan Times. He covers urban development and infrastructure. He had long stints with leading national dailies and has experience of over a decade in journalism.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
×
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
My Offers
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, June 09, 2023
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Register Free and get Exciting Deals