Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), demanding a 'BJP-mukt Ram' (Ram without BJP) amid a growing controversy over donations collected for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking at a party event, Thackeray accused the ruling party of exploiting the temple for political and financial gain.
Thackeray rejects BJP's Hindutva
"We reject BJP's Hindutva of looting temples," Thackeray said, referring to allegations that the BJP had misused funds collected for the Ram Temple construction. He claimed that the party had turned the temple into a "business venture" and called for a complete separation of the BJP from the Ram Temple movement. "We want a 'BJP-mukt Ram'," he asserted.
Row over donations
The controversy erupted after reports suggested that a significant portion of the donations collected for the Ram Temple had been diverted for political activities. The opposition has repeatedly questioned the transparency of the fund collection, with Thackeray leading the charge. He alleged that the BJP had collected crores of rupees under the pretext of temple construction but failed to account for the money properly.
Political implications
Thackeray's remarks come ahead of key state elections, where the Ram Temple issue has been a central campaign plank for the BJP. By targeting the party's handling of temple funds, Thackeray aims to weaken the BJP's appeal among Hindu voters. He also accused the BJP of using the temple as a "political tool" to distract from issues like unemployment and inflation.
BJP's response
The BJP dismissed Thackeray's allegations as baseless. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "The Ram Temple is a symbol of faith for crores of Indians. Uddhav Thackeray's comments are a desperate attempt to stay relevant. The fund collection was transparent and done through official channels." Patra also accused Thackeray of hypocrisy, pointing out that the Shiv Sena had earlier supported the temple movement.
Impact on alliance politics
The attack signals a further rift between the two former allies. The Shiv Sena (UBT) broke away from the BJP in 2019 over power-sharing issues and has since aligned with the opposition. Thackeray's latest salvo is expected to deepen the divide, with both parties likely to clash more frequently as elections approach.
