Mumbai: Shiv Sena is planning to take around 25,000 workers from all over Maharashtra to Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh for Uddhav Thackeray’s visit.
Sources informed that the party has asked all its MLAs in Mumbai and suburban area to arrange minimum 1,000 persons each.
Mr Thackeray will visit Ayodhya on November 25. Through this show of strength, the Sena will try to grab attention on Ram Mandir issue.
“All the MLAs, MPs and district chiefs from city and suburban areas have been asked to make a list of 1,000 workers each, who will join the Ayodhya rally. Target from Maharashtra is around 25,000 to 30,000, whereas Shiv Sainiks from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand and Delhi will also join. Around 50,000 Shiv Sainiks will be in Ayodhya when Mr Thackeray will visit Ram Janmabhumi,” said a senior leader of Sena who is looking after preparation for the visit.
Mr Thackeray had called a meeting of the party MLAs and district chiefs on Friday in Mumbai. He spoke about the issue of Ram Mandir and how this is matter of faith for the Hindu community in India.
Mr Thackeray also asked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to bring down Modi government if it failed to build Ram temple. Sena has taken a strong stand on Ram Mandir issue since last four months.
Mr Thackeray’s personal assistant and party’s secretary Milind Narvekar had put up posters in Mumbai about Ayodhya tour in August of this year. Since then, the Sena has been pitching for Ram temple.
Mr Thackeray in his annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park, on October 18 had declared that he would visit Ayodhya and Ram Janmabhoomi on November 25. He had also told the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to build the temple or else he would initiate the process.
Mr Thackeray had also slammed the Union government for being inactive in matters related to the Hindu faith.
To make Mr Thackeray’s visit a grand affair, the Shiv Sena had put three of its major leaders on the ground.
Mr Narvekar, known as the ‘right hand’ of Mr Thackeray, went to Ayodhya on October 31 and Mr Shinde, Mr Raut, MLC Anil Parab and others accompanied him. They discussed the itinerary of Mr Thackeray with the party’s local leaders.
