Sanjay Raut's ‘kidnapped Lord Ram’ charge at BJP amid Ayodhya invitation row

The ceremony scheduled for January 22 will witness the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple.

Published on: Dec 28, 2023, 12:00:16 IST

By HT News Desk

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Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday sharpened his attack against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the controversy around the invitation for the Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, saying it seems “they have kidnapped Lord Ram”.

Raut has claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) was not invited to the Ram Temple consecration ceremony scheduled for January 22.

"There is BJP government in UP and at the Centre. It seems like they have kidnapped Lord Ram. Are we waiting for the invitation? When the BJP event is over, we will go to visit Ram Lalla," the Rajya Sabha member told reporters.

On Tuesday, Raut said there was no need for an invitation to party chief Uddhav Thackeray to visit Ayodhya for the ceremony as Shiv Sena has an old association with the UP town, unlike BJP. Raut claimed when the BJP blamed the Shiv Sena for pulling down Babri masjid in 1992, Sena founder Bal Thackeray took responsibility for it.

"When the Ayodhya movement was going on, those who consider themselves warriors today ran away from there and at that time Balasaheb Thackeray came forward and said I am proud of Shiv Sainiks who have done this work for Ram Temple. Those who contributed in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement include former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, Balasaheb Thackeray, former VHP president Ashok Singhal, Uma Bharati, Vinay Katiyar and Shrish Chandra Dikshit," he said.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has expressed his disappointment for not being invited to the event, accusing BJP of playing politics in the name of Ram Mandir.

"I have not been invited to the inauguration of Ram Mandir, I have some places of faith, I go there. The question of going to a religious place is personal. I am not saying that openly. BJP is doing politics or business in the name of Ram temple, I don't know," said Pawar.

"The ruling party does not have any concrete program to garner people's support, so it seems they are trying to create a different opinion among the people by using Ram Mandir as an excuse," added Pawar.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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