Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray visited the Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya on Wednesday, 15 June.
After visiting the temple, Thackeray said on Twitter, "It is a matter of privilege for me to see with my own eyes the dreams of Shri Ram devotees from all over the world. There was a long discussion on the construction work in the meeting with the craftsmen who gave shape to this idea."
He also said that he was in Ayodhya not to indulge in politics, but for philosophy, adding that the ties between the Shiv Sena and the city of Ayodhya were generations old.
The minister had earlier arrived in the city for a day-long pilgrimage, during which he also attended an aarti along the banks of the Sarayu river.
Backdrop of Thackeray's Visit
A team of MPs led by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut was in Ayodhya since Monday, to oversee the preparations for Thackeray’s visit.
This is the third time Aaditya Thackeray has visited Ayodhya, after having accompanied his father Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in November 2018 and March 2020.
The visit, for the Sena, falls under the backdrop of comments of “abandoning Hindutva” from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Thackeray arrived in Lucknow around 11 am from where he reached Ayodhya by road.
According to party officials, over 1,000 Shiv Sainiks had already reached the temple town for Aaditya's visit.
While Raj Thackeray was set to visit Ayodhya this month as well, he cancelled the visit citing health reasons.
Thackeray attended the Sarayu aarti in the evening after visiting the Hanuman Garhi temple and Laxman Kila in Ayodhya. The minister is scheduled to return to Lucknow and head back to Mumbai.
On his day-long visit, the Sena leader also held a meeting with party functionaries and interacted with the media.
He earlier visited the ISCKON temple in Ramnagar and tweeted a video of his visit.
Thackeray's visit assumes vast significance, his first solo visit as he presents himself as the Sena's future leader. He was brought into politics by Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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