The Shiv Sena MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut lashed out at the BJP over the fund collection drive for Ram temple in Ayodhya. On Monday, December 21, the party alleged that the mass contact initiative to collect funds from the public for the Ram temple construction in Ayodhya is akin to canvassing for the 2024 general elections in the name of Lord Ram.
This comes after Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust’s general secretary Champat Rai earlier said the trust is going to start a mass contact and contribution campaign across the country for the construction of the temple.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, “It will be an insult to Lord Ram and Hindutva if donations are sought in the God’s name, going door-to-door, as he is the King of Ayodhya. Many people have sacrificed for the Ram Temple. The Prime Minister himself laid that foundation stone of the Ram Temple. Many people and organizations including the Shiv Sena have contributed to the bank account for the temple. So whose are the 4 lakh volunteers going to campaign for?” the Shiv Sena leader asked.
The Shiv Sena has strongly objected to the liaison campaign for the temple in Ayodhya. Stating that the Shiv Sena had contributed Rs 1 crore towards the temple's construction, Raut further asked, “Who were the 4 Lakh volunteers campaigning for?”
Shiv Sena has also accused BJP of doing Mandir politics since their fallout post-Maharashtra polls. However, without naming this time, Raut also stated that the party should stop doing political drama in the name Lord Rama.
Reacting to Shiv Sena’s claim, BJP leaders Ram Kadam, Ashish Shelar and Pravin Darekar also attacked the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and stated that the remarks made by Raut on the initiative are sensing that the party is losing its mass base.
BJP leader Ashish Shelar asked Raut, who is inciting Shiv Sena and him to obstruct the work related to Ram Mandir from day one? He also stated that Sena is taking an anti-Ram temple stance in this way. Shelar also taunted about the party’s habit of taking out dues from the pockets of those who run at the whim of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) contractors.
राम मंदिर के मुद्दे पर शिवसेना और खा. संजय राउत को पहले दिन से अडंगा डालने को कौन प्रेरित कर रहा है? pic.twitter.com/hCOhUAeJoq
— Adv. Ashish Shelar - ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) December 21, 2020
BJP MLA Ram Kadam also said that Raut likening donation to temple funds to charity, was an 'insult to Ram Bhakts'.
Speaking to reporters, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Darekar also said, “We can see statements coming from the Shiv Sena as if it has nearly given up Hindutva.”
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