by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray
Pune : Launching a fresh salvo at ruling ally Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday asked if the demonetization decision could be taken so quickly, why is the decision on building Ram Temple in Ayodhya still pending.
“The demonetization decision was taken instantly, but the work on Ram Mandir has yet to begun. They (BJP) had said it would happen before the elections – which elections, 2019 or 2050?” Thackeray asked sarcastically.
Talking to media persons here on a pre-election preparatory visit, the Sena chief said the same was the status of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s other major policies like Uniform Civil Code, or abrogation of the Constitution’s Article 370.
“There is no discussion on these important issues now, they are almost forgotten. You have the majority and should have implemented these… what happened?” he asked.
To a question on the recent controversy over distribution of the Hindu holy book Bhagavad Gita to students in 100 select colleges in Mumbai, Thackeray said “this was being done to hide the mess prevailing in the University of Mumbai”.
“The students need to be given education relevant to modern times. The university is ridden with mismanagement, there are paper leaks, examination results are being delayed and other major problems. Instead of concentrating and solving all these issues, the education department wants to distribute Bhagavad Gita,” Thackeray said.
Targetting Saudi Aramco’s proposed Rs 3 trillion oil refinery and integrated petrochemicals complex coming up in Nanar, Ratnagiri, he reiterated his party’s opposition to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ pet project.
“The CM has assured that it will not be imposed if the locals are opposed to it. Whatever he may say, we are with the people of the Konkan region who do not want the project. We shall not allow it to come up,” Thackeray declared.
Earlier, meeting with the Sena’s Pune party office-bearers, he conceded that the Pune and western Maharashtra region was being ignored, “but that would not happen anymore”.
“I have directed all the party leaders to pay special attention to Pune and they will work with renewed vigour. I shall also come here regularly to monitor the progress,” he assured.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Hyderabad : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Friday said that construction of a grand Ram temple at Ayodhya will begin before the 2019 elections.
Shah told a meeting of party leaders here that steps will be taken to clear the decks for launching construction of the temple before the polls.
BJP National Executive member Perala Sekharjee briefed the media about the meeting at BJP’s Telangana state unit office.
“Considering the developments, I believe that construction of Ram temple will begin before the coming general elections,” Sekharjee quoted Shah as saying.
The BJP chief, who arrived on a day-long visit to Hyderabad on Friday, also told the meeting that the elections will not be advanced.
Shah told his party colleagues to prepare strategies to bring the party to power in the state.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Ayodhya : Union Minister Uma Bharti on Tuesday joined the growing chorus for an early construction of a grand Ram temple here, saying she expected Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to “take a bold step”.
Talking to reporters after praying at the Hanumangarhi temple and the Ram Janmabhoomi, the saffron robed BJP leader however clarified that while she was for an early construction of the temple, she will not set any deadline for the same. “I hope that an early decision is taken in the direction of realizing this national dream but will not set a timetable,” she said.
Uma Bharti also said that millions of people had sacrificed a lot for the temple and pointed out that the court has also said that what was being considered a disputed land was indeed the birthplace of Lord Rama. Now it is just a matter of deciding on ownership of the land, she added further.
One of the accused in the Babri demolition case of 1992, she also requested the media and other sections of the society not to link the construction of the Ram temple with the 2019 general elections, adding that the Ram temple will be a “precious heritage” for the generations to come.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
Ayodhya : Newly elected Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) chief Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje on Monday visited the make-shift temple of ‘Ram Lalla’ here in Uttar Pradesh and said that the dream of billions for a grand Ram temple here will soon be a reality.
The former judge, who also served as governor of Himachal Pradesh, also offered prayers at the fabled Hanumangarhi temple.
Later in the day, he was scheduled to hold wide-ranging meetings with the temple priests and office bearers of the Ramjanma Bhoomi Nyas, a VHP official said.
Kokje would also visit the ‘Karyasewakpuram’ — the place where stone carvings were underway for the last many years, in anticipation of construction of the Ram temple.
On Sunday, before leaving for Faizabad, the VHP chief told reporters in Lucknow that many Muslims were also in favour of construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site.
He also said that before starting work in his new capacity as the head of the Hindu outfit, he wanted to pay obeisance to ‘Ram Lalla’ and that is why he was visiting Ayodhya.
The 79-year-old leader also said that he would soon be holding deliberations with saints from all across the country and would like to take the Ram temple movement forward.
He also expressed hope that the verdict for Ram temple would soon be pronounced in favour of the Hindu claimants.
Calling for mutual dialogue and understanding to thrash out the problem he, however, rued that the litigants were “outsiders” who had no stakes in the decades-old matter.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | News, Politics
New Delhi : Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking U-turns on promises made ahead of the May 2014 Lok Sabha polls, including construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, and said his government had failed to meet people’s aspirations in four years.
In a four-page letter to the Prime Minister, Togadia raised issues ranging from the Ram temple at Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to the ban on cow slaughter, repeal of Article 370 and 35A related to Jammu and Kashmir from the Constitution, Uniform Civil Code, and issues related to farmers and labourers.
He warned the government about what he said was “rising discontent” among the people, especially those affiliated to the Sangh Parivar.
Addressing a press conference here, the VHP leader reminded Modi of promises in the run-up to the last Lok Sabha polls and said selling big dreams was not enough.
“Nation-building is based on truth of the work that has to be seen on the ground,” he said.
“These questions are not just posed by an individual but lakhs of people associated with us through the ideology. They are baffled; and now they are upset because not just the government led by you is not seen doing anything on the ideological, socio-political and economic issues but also on many issues, there is a U-turn.
“It has hurt the people associated with the (Hindutva) ideology. The political power centres are seen deviating from that very ideology,” Togadia said.
“The BJP came to power based on these promises as the people believed you will fulfil these promises… what happened to those promises. They are still unfulfilled.”
He reminded the Prime Minister that the Bharatiya Janata Party at its conclave in Palampur in Himachal Pradesh had adopted a resolution for the construction of the Ram temple through a law made by Parliament.
He cautioned that time and tide don’t wait for anybody.
“In fact, time has been changing. The election results in Gujarat and bypolls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and now Uttar Pradesh, are the indicators,” he said.
Taking a dig at Modi, the VHP leader said there was no point blaming previous governments and political parties for the situation prevailing now in the country after enjoying power for nearly four years.
He, however, said it was never too late and sought time from Modi to discuss the issues he had raised, calling Modi his “Mota Bhai” (elder brother).
Togadia escaped unhurt in a road accident near Surat this month and voiced suspicion that it was an attempt to kill him.
—IANS
