'I am CM now so...': Uddhav speaks on his visit to Ayodhya for Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan

In an interview with Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that Bhoomi Poojan at Ayodhya Ram Temple can be conducted through video-conference in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dubbed as the 'unlocked' interview, Uddhav Thackeray spoke on a range of issues, including the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the State, India-China tensions, Rajasthan political crisis, and Ayodhya Ram Temple.

When asked by Saamana’s Executive Editor Sanjay Raut about the Bhoomi Poojan at Ram Temple on August 5 and the role of Shiv Sena after it broke alliance with BJP, CM Uddhav said that he can go to Ayodhya for the program and will offer his prayers., but asked if lakhs of "Ram bhakts" can be stopped from going there, and if the Centre wants to expose them to Coronavirus. He added that he had visited Ayodhya even when he was not a Chief Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other prominent personalities are set to visit Ayodhya for the Bhoomi Pujan on August 5. 

"An e-bhoomi pujan can be done. The ground-breaking ceremony can be held through video-conference. This is an event of joy, and lakhs of people would be interested in attending the ceremony. Will we allow the spread of coronavirus?" Thackeray said.

Recalling that the last time when he had gone to Ayodhya, he was stopped from performing 'aarti' at the Saryu river there since the COVID-19 pandemic spread had just started, he said, "This is not an ordinary temple. Today, we are fighting the coronavirus pandemic and religious gatherings are prohibited. I can go to Ayodhya for the ceremony, but what about lakhs of Ram bhakts. Will you stop them? You can do e-bhoomi pujan through video-conference."

Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya Thackeray, visited Ayodhya in March this year and had said that he has only parted ways with BJP and not Lord Ram. Last year in June, Uddhav was accompanied by Aaditya Thackeray, and 18 party MPs during his visit to Ayodhya. He had also announced that his government will give Rs 1 crore to help in the construction of a temple to Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

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The Ayodhya verdict & Ram Mandir Trust formation

The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in its verdict on November 9, 2019, awarded the entire disputed area in Ayodhya to the Hindu parties, after a 40-day marathon hearing. On the other hand, the SC ordered that an alternative land of 5 acres in Ayodhya would be given to the Sunni Central Waqf Board for the construction of a mosque. 

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Prime Minister Modi had announced the formation of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust in the Lok Sabha on February 5, with his own former Principal Secretary Nripendra Misra heading the construction committee. The committee has met several times and has invited the PM to lay the foundation stone when the construction begins. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on March 25 performed special puja and shifted Ram Lalla from the makeshift temple in Ayodhya to another a pre-fabricated temple in the same premises. 

Amid the relaxed restrictions of Coronavirus lockdown, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust met on July 18 in Ayodhya. The temple construction will commence after the foundation stone-laying ceremony. The trust has estimated that construction of the temple will be completed in 3-3.5 years i.e by 2023. The ceremony was previously stalled due to India-China's face-off, as per the trust.

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