New Delhi: Reacting to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s remarks that he has not been invited to the consecration ceremony of Ram Lala in Ayodhya, the chief priest at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, Acharya Satyendra Das, on Sunday said invitations have been extended only to the “devotees of Lord Ram”.
“Invitations are only extended to those who are devotees of Lord Ram. It is totally wrong to say that the BJP is fighting in the name of Lord Ram, our PM is respected everywhere. He has done immense work under his tenure. This is not politics. This is his devotion,” Acharya Das was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The chief priest’s reaction came in response to Uddhav Thackeray’s allegations on BJP-ruled central government that the saffron party is ‘politicising’ the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The Shiv Sena UBT chief said that the inaugural event should not be turned into a political event or revolve around a single party.
Acharya Satyendra Das also lashed out at Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut for his derogatory remark that “BJP is now left to announce Lord Ram as their candidate”. “Sanjay Raut has so much pain that even he can’t express that, they were the ones who used to fight elections in the name of Lord Ram. Those who believed in Lord Ram are in power, what nonsense he is talking about? He is insulting Lord Ram,” the priest said.
Notably, Thackeray claimed that he did not receive an invite to attend the event, also adding that he does not need an invitation to visit the temple and can go to Ayodhya anytime he wants.
“Ram Lalla is mine too. I can go anytime I wish. I can go now, I can go tomorrow. When I became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, I went to Ayodhya. I visited Ayodhya before that also. Yes, I have not received any invitation and I don’t need one. I just have one request that this event should not be made a political one,” Thackeray added.
Notably, a total of 7,000 invitations, including 3,000 to VVIP guests (priests, donors and several politicians), have been extended for the consecration ceremony, scheduled to take place on January 22, 2024. According to temple officials, the consecration will be held over seven days, starting January 16. On January 22, the idol of Ram Lalla will be consecrated in the temple.
