Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Saturday night launched into the tour of Ayodhya the place he’ll provide prayers to Lord Ram by boarding a flight for Lucknow from Mumbai airport.
Shinde is accompanied by leaders of Shiv Sena, MPs and MLAs, and leaders of ally BJP.
It might be Shinde’s maiden visit to Ayodhya after taking cost as Maharashtra chief minister in June 2022 and after the Election Commission recognised the faction led by him as Shiv Sena and allotted it the “bow and arrow” ballot image.
Shinde to carry out “Maha Aarti” at Ram Temple
Shinde will journey to Ayodhya from Lucknow on Sunday afternoon and carry out a ‘maha aarti’ on the under-construction Ram temple with others and later on the Sharayu River in the night. He can be scheduled to visit the continuing building of the Ram temple and can deal with a press convention in Ayodhya on Sunday afternoon. He will return to Mumbai on Sunday evening, as per his aides.
Speaking to reporters on the Mumbai airport, the chief minister stated he would reply to criticism of his Ayodhya visit via his work.
“It is nice that due to our work, those that by no means ventured out of their properties are going out to meet folks,” he stated in a veiled swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
“Ayodhya is a matter of religion for us. I thank PM Modi for expediting the development of Ram temple,” stated Shinde who shares energy with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.
Last November, Shinde and his loyalists paid a ”gratitude visit” to the Kamakhya temple in Guwahati.
Pawar calls it “publicity stunt”
Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar has slammed the “publicity” across the Ayodhya visit of Shinde and likewise ridiculed relentless media updates on the latter’s programme there.
“When I offer prayers anywhere, I do not create such publicity. The chief minister is visiting there to seek blessings,” he instructed reporters.
The former Maharashtra deputy chief minister additionally stated there are urgent points associated to unemployment, crime, and farmers’ misery that require extra consideration.
A particular prepare carrying activists of Shiv Sena to Ayodhya left Thane railway station on Friday night amidst slogans of Jai Shri Ram.
(With inputs from PTI)
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