Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has issued a warning about the possibility of a “Godhra-like incident” occurring in connection with the upcoming inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The event, scheduled for January and expected to be attended by thousands of Hindus from across the country, has sparked political discussions in the lead-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Thackeray’s comments, directed at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have elicited sharp responses from senior BJP leaders. Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Law Minister, reminded Thackeray that his late father, Balasaheb Thackeray, had supported the Ram temple movement and invoked his blessings. Prasad also expressed hope that Lord Ram would grant wisdom to the opposition leader.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur and Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant joined in criticizing Uddhav Thackeray’s remarks. Thakur accused Thackeray of being “greedy” and redirected the discussion to the controversy surrounding Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s remarks on ‘Sanatan Dharm.’ Sawant questioned Thackeray’s apprehensions about the temple inauguration and highlighted the ongoing ‘Sanatan Dharm’ row within the opposition alliance, of which Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction is a part.
During an event in Jalgaon, Uddhav Thackeray raised concerns about the potential influx of Hindus arriving in buses and trains for the temple inauguration and the possibility of an incident similar to the Godhra train burning in 2002 occurring during their return journey. The Godhra incident resulted in the deaths of 58 people and triggered widespread protests and riots in Gujarat.
The upcoming inauguration of the Ram temple is of significant political importance, coming just months before the 2024 general election. The BJP, which has championed the construction of the temple, will seek an unprecedented third term in power. The temple’s construction has been a topic of national significance, with the Supreme Court awarding the land to Hindus in a landmark 2019 verdict.
Thackeray’s warning and the ensuing political reactions have added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing discourse surrounding the temple inauguration and its potential impact on India’s political landscape.
Sources By Agencies
