‘Not Here for Politics’: Aaditya Thackeray on Visit to Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir

He said that the ties between the Shiv Sena and the city of Ayodhya were generations old.

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."

विश्वभर के श्री राम भक्तों का सपना साकार होते हुए अपनी आँखों से देखना मेरे लिए सौभाग्य की बात है। इस कल्पना को रूप देने वाले शिल्पकारों अर्थात् एंजिनीयरों से भेंट में निर्माण कार्य पर लम्बी चर्चा हुई। pic.twitter.com/9HjpswsYA0

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 15, 2022

तुम आशा विश्वास हमारे तुम धरती आकाश हमारे, रामा

तात मात तुम, बंधू भ्रात हो दिवस रात्री,
संध्या प्रभात हो दीपक सूर्य चंद्र तारक में रामा तुम ही ज्योती प्रकाश हमारे, रामा 🙏 pic.twitter.com/x8gvbOb9Ff

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 15, 2022

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.

हिन्दू हृदयसम्राट बालासाहेब ठाकरे और इस्कॉन मुंबई के संबंधों को याद करते हुए, इस्कॉन रामनगर के दर्शन के निमंत्रण और प्रेम केलिए मैं आभारी हूं। हरे कृष्ण 🙏 @india_iskcon pic.twitter.com/NH1c1bBUmM

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 15, 2022

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.)