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K’taka Elections: Pained At Shettar’s Resignation,” Says Bommai

By LokMarg 16th April 2023

After former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar resigned as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said Shettar’s move has pained him.

The resignation of former CM and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar has pained and disturbed him, said the CM.
Speaking to reporters here, Bommai said Shetter has been a senior and important leader of this region. The party had taken several decisions on several occasions.

Bommai said Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Jagadish Shettar personally on Saturday.

He said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to bring changes in this static politics. Former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa announced his retirement from electoral politics. The BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised a big position at the central level to Shettar. The name of Shettar was on the list of the district-level core committee but the denial of the ticket was the decision of the high command. The time has come to bring the changes.”

Bommai said former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is a role model as he tendered his resignation even while he was in the chief minister’s post.

“He (Yediyurappa ) taught them ideal to everyone. The BJP is trying to take every community along with it,” Bommao said.

Bommai said BJP has given the maximum number of ministerships to the Lingayat community.

He said the opportunity must be given from one generation to another due to which Shettar had been denied the ticket.

“I am not going to answer all the questions raised by Shettar. It is an attempt to make a new development. Shettar’s resignation from the party will impact the BJP but damage control exercise will be made to minimize the impact,” Bommai added.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar tendered his resignation as an MLA to Karnataka Assembly Speaker, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, at Sirsi on Sunday.

Shettar, who resigned as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA on Sunday, said he was yet to decide whether he would join the Congress.

On being asked whether he will be joining Congress, the former Karnataka chief minister said, “I have not decided yet.”

Earlier, on Sunday, Shettar said some Karnataka BJP leaders were mishandling the party in the State.

“I am going to tender my resignation as an MLA and will also resign from the primary membership of the party. Later, I will decide my next course of action, whether I have to fight independently or with a party. The ill-treatment and humiliation by the senior leaders of the party have hurt me a lot. My decision (to resign from BJP) is final. Some state leaders are mishandling the BJP system in Karnataka,” Shettar told ANI.

Shettar, a six-time MLA from the constituency, was reportedly advised by the party to stand down and not seek a fresh term as MLA from the Hubli-Dharwad Central segment, following which his followers expressed their anguish against the party’s high command.

On Saturday after announcing his resignation Jagadish Shettar also mentioned that there is a conspiracy against him, which is why he was denied a ticket.

“There is a conspiracy against me, will tell everything after resigning,” Shettar told ANI.

After being left out from the BJP’s candidate lists, Shettar had issued an ultimatum to the party, saying he will consider his future political course if denied a ticket from his preferred segment.

Meanwhile, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said if Shettar comes back to BJP, the party would welcome him.

Yediyurappa said, “We made him (Jagadish Shettar) the chief minister of Karnataka and the BJP state president. The statements given by him have made us unhappy. People knew about Jagadish Shettar only because of BJP. I want to ask Jagadish Shettar why is he joining Congress. If he comes back to BJP, we will welcome him.”

He said People from Karnataka will not forgive Shettar.

“Dharmendra Pradhan had offered Jagadish Shatter, a ministerial position in the cabinet. We had offered a ticket to Jagadish Shatter’s family. But he did not respond,” he said.

The 224-seat Karnataka Assembly will go to polls on May 10, and the votes will be counted on May 13. (ANI)

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Will Welcome Him If He Comes Back To BJP: Yediyurappa After Jagadish Quits As MLA

By LokMarg 16th April 2023

After BJP MLA Jagadish Shettar resigned from his membership in the state assembly, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said if Shettar comes back to BJP, the party would welcome him.

Addressing mediapersons here, Yediyurappa said, “BJP is a national party. BJP has given a good position to me, Jagadish Shettar, Laxman Savadi and others. Laxman Savadi was made a minister. When he lost the election, we made him an MLC. We gave him many opportunities in the party. I want to ask Laxman Savadi followers, what wrong did we do to him? Why did he join the Congress?”
A former Karnataka deputy chief minister, Laxman Savadi quit the BJP and was fielded from the Athani Assembly constituency by the Congress.

Savadi’s exit ahead of the polls is seen to be a major blow to the ruling BJP He joined the Congress party, after being denied a ticket by the BJP.

Further invoking to Jagadish Shettar, Yediyurappa said, “We made him (Jagadish Shettar) the chief minister of Karnataka and the BJP state president. The statements given by him have made us unhappy. People knew about Jagadish Shettar only because of BJP. I want to ask Jagadish Shettar why is he joining Congress. If he comes back to BJP, we will welcome him.”

He said People from Karnataka will not forgive Shettar.

“Dharmendra Pradhan had offered Jagadish Shatter, a ministerial position in the cabinet. We had offered a ticket to Jagadish Shatter’s family. But he did not respond to it,” he said.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar tendered his resignation as an MLA to Karnataka Assembly Speaker, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, at Sirsi on Sunday.

Earlier on Sunday, Shettar said some Karnataka BJP leaders were mishandling the party in the State.

“I am going to tender my resignation as an MLA and I will also resign from the primary membership of the party. Later I will decide the next course of action, whether I have to fight independently or with a party. The ill-treatment and humiliation by the senior leaders of the party have hurt me a lot. My decision (to resign from BJP) is final. Some state leaders are mishandling the BJP system in Karnataka,” Shettar told ANI.

On whether he will be joining the Congress, the former Karnataka chief minister said, “I have not decided yet.”

Shettar, a six-time MLA from the constituency was reportedly advised by the party to stand down and not seek a fresh term as MLA from the Hubli-Dharwad Central segment, following which his followers expressed their anguish against the party’s high command.

On Saturday, after announcing his resignation, Jagadish Shettar also mentioned that there is a conspiracy against him, which is why he was denied a ticket.

“There is a conspiracy against me, will tell everything after resigning,” Shettar told ANI.

After being left out from the BJP’s candidate lists, Shettar had earlier issued an ultimatum to the party, saying he will consider his future political course if denied a ticket from his preferred segment.

The 224-seat Karnataka Assembly will go to polls on May 10, and the votes will be counted on May 13. (ANI)

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Veer Savarkar’s Descendant Files Defamation Suit Against Rahul

By LokMarg 12th April 2023

A fresh defamation complaint has been filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks against Veer Savarkar.

Satyaki Savarkar, the grandson of one of the siblings of poet and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, filed a criminal defamation complaint against Rahul over his remarks against the saffron ideologue.
The Congress leader was disqualified from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case over a remark using the surname ‘Modi’.

Even as the grand old party jumped to his defence and moved court challenging his conviction for criminal defamation, the Congress leader landed in a fresh soup after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma threatened to file a defamation suit against Rahul over a social media post linking him to the Adani Group.

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Satyaki alleged that Rahul made uncharitable remarks against the saffron ideologue during his recent visit to the United Kingdom this year.

“Rahul Gandhi went to England last month and in one of the gatherings commented that Veer Savarkar wrote in his book that he, along with his 5-6 friends, beat a Muslim and Veer Savarkar enjoyed it. The remark is an insult because that incident is a figment of his imagination. We’ve been hearing a lot from Rahul Gandhi and some of his followers about so-called petitions and pensions. Those were actually sustenance allowance and clemency petitions. We have moved court,” Satyaki said.

“After a point, we felt enough was enough and this needs to stop. Hence, we moved court. Let the court decide now,” he added.

Rahul was earlier convicted and handed a suspended sentence by a Surat court, enabling him to move an appeal against the verdict.

Responding to Rahul’s post, the Assam CM said he will file a defamation case against him after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Assam on April 14.

“Whatever Rahul Gandhi has tweeted, it is a defamatory tweet. So once Prime Minister goes back from Assam we will respond to the tweet and definitely, there will be a defamation case in Guwahati,” he said.

He further added, “But not now, I don’t want to talk about politics now, because we want to celebrate Bihu”.

Rahul Gandhi, in a stinging tweet, posted a tweet with pictures of former Congress leaders, who either joined the BJP or ended decades-old ties with the grand old party, along with that of businessman Gautam Adani.

The pictures included Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, former MP Ghulam nabi Azad, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, leader Anil Antony and former CM Kiran Reddy.

Earlier, a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker filed a defamation complaint against Rahul in a Haridwar court for describing the organisation as “Kauravas of the 21st century.”

The lawyer for RSS worker Kamal Bhadauria, said his client filed a complaint in court under Sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the Congress leader for making offensive remarks against the RSS.

The Congress leader, had on January 9 this year, on the sidelines of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Haryana, alleged that “Kauravas of the 21st century wear Khakhi half-pants and run ‘shakhas’, and standing with them are three of the richest people of the country”. (ANI)

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Pro-Khalistani Elements Misusing Asylum Policy: India to UK

By LokMarg 12th April 2023

India on Wednesday raised concerns on the misuse of the United Kingdom’s asylum status by pro-Khalistani elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India and requested better cooperation with the UK.

India also requested better cooperation with the UK and increased monitoring of UK-based Pro-Khalistan extremists and to take appropriate proactive action.
During the 5th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue held in New Delhi earlier today, India also pointed out its concerns over the breach of security of the Indian High Commission in London.

The Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary, Ajay Kumar Bhalla and the UK delegation was led by Permanent Secretary, Home Office, Sir Matthew Rycroft. The meeting was also attended by other senior officials of both countries.

Both sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation and identified further steps that can be taken to explore opportunities and synergies in advancing cooperation in counter-terrorism, cyber security and global supply chains, drug trafficking, migration, extradition, and anti-India activities in the UK including Pro-Khalistan Extremism among other issues.

“The Indian side specifically conveyed its concerns on the misuse of UK’s asylum status by the Pro-Khalistani elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India and requested better cooperation with the UK and increased monitoring of UK-based Pro-Khalistan Extremists and take appropriate proactive action. India’s concerns over the breach of security of the Indian High Commission were also emphasized,” a statement issued from the Ministry of Home Affairs said.

The meeting concluded with both sides expressing satisfaction with the ongoing partnership and agreeing to deepen bilateral engagement and maintain the momentum for enhanced security cooperation between the two countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) last month summoned the UK deputy high commissioner after pro-Khalistan protestors took down the Indian flag at the high commission in London. The pro-Khalistan groups were protesting against the Punjab police’s crackdown on Sikh hardliner Amritpal Singh. (ANI)

Modi Flags Off Delhi-Jaipur-Ajmer Vande Bharat Express

By LokMarg 12th April 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday flagged off Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, the world’s first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory via video conferencing on Wednesday.

The inaugural train will run between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations.
The regular service of this Vande Bharat Express will start from Thursday, April 13 and will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt., with stops at Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgaon.

Notably, Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express is Rajasthan’s first Vande Bharat Express train.

While flagging off the train, PM Modi said, “Vande Bharat Express enriches the spirit of ‘India First, Always First’. I am happy that Vande Bharat train has today become synonymous with development, modernity, self-reliance and stability. Today’s journey of Vande Bharat will lead us to the journey of developed India tomorrow.”

PM Modi said ever since Vande Bharat started, about 60 lakh people have travelled in these trains. The biggest feature of high-speed Vande Bharat is that it is saving time of the people. From fast speed to beautiful design, Vande Bharat train is endowed with many features, he said.

“Vande Bharat Express will immensely benefit the tourism industry of Rajasthan. I am fortunate to have flagged off the sixth Vande Bharat Express in the last two months.”

According to the schedule drawn up for the newest Vande Bharat Express, it will cover the distance between Delhi Cantt. and Ajmer in 5 hours and 15 minutes.

The present fastest train on the same route, Shatabdi Express, takes 6 hours 15 minutes. The new Vande Bharat Express will be faster by 60 minutes than the present fastest train on the same route.

The train will improve the connectivity to major tourist destinations in Rajasthan, including Pushkar and the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, among other places that draw visitors in bulk around the year. Enhanced connectivity will also provide a boost to socio-economic development in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8 flagged off the Chennai-Coimbatore Vande Bharat Express in Chennai. It was the second train in the semi-high-speed class to be flagged off on the same day after the Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express, which rolled out of the Secunderabad Railway Station in Telangana.

Earlier, in January, PM Modi had flagged off India’s eighth Vande Bharat Express between Secunderabad and Visakhapatnam.

The launch came a week after Prime Minister Modi flagged off a Vande Bharat Express on the Bhopal-New Delhi route.

The Secunderabad-Tirupati Vande Bharat Express has stops at Nalgonda, Guntur, Ongole, and Nellore stations while it covers its 660 km journey between the cities.

Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high speed and self-propelled train set. The train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable and more convenient travel experience. (ANI)

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Zelenskyy Writes To Modi, Seeks Additional Humanitarian Aid

By LokMarg 12th April 2023

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking additional humanitarian aid including medical equipment from India, the external affairs ministry said on Wednesday.

The request came during the recent three-day visit to India by Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova who handed over Zelenskyy’s letter to Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi, a statement from the foreign ministry said.
“Dzhaparova also called on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi. Besides holding discussions on a wide range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, she handed over a letter from President Zelenskyy, addressed to Prime Minister Modi. Ukrainian request for additional humanitarian supply, including medicines and medical equipment was also shared by her,” according to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The statement read that the next Inter-Governmental Commission between New Delhi and Kyiv would be held in India on a mutually convenient date.

Both the ministers, Dzhaparova and Lekhi exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest.

India has assured of providing enhanced humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Following their meeting, MoS Lekhi took to her Twitter handle to reiterate what Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, during a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year that, “Today’s era is not of war.”

She tweeted, “Not a time for War – PM @narendramodi. Pleased to meet Ukrainian First Dy FM @EmineDzheppar. Exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest. Cultural ties and women empowerment also figured in the discussion. Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance.”

Meanwhile, Dzhaparova also took to Twitter to post her thanks on Tuesday. “Had a fruitful meeting with @M_Lekhi. Briefed Minister on #Ukraine’s efforts to fight unprovoked aggression. Discussed deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields, in a particular culture. Bookshelves and audio guides under the patronage of @ZelenskaUA will be available soon in India,” she tweeted.

During her visit Dzhaparova held bilateral talks with Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), MEA.

The bilateral agenda included – spheres such as economic, defence, humanitarian assistance, and global issues of mutual interest.

The Ukraine deputy foreign minister briefed Secretary (West) about the prevailing situation in Ukraine. The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Kyiv on a mutually convenient date, according to a statement released by the MEA.

“The Ukrainian Deputy FM also proposed that rebuilding infrastructure in Ukraine could be an opportunity for Indian companies. Secretary (West) shared that India has provided medicines, medical equipment and would provide school buses etc. to Ukraine,” the MEA statement added.

Dzhaparova visited the Manohar Parrikar-Institute of Defence Studies and also delivered a talk at the Indian Council of World Affairs. During her visit, she highlighted Ukraine’s desire to build a stronger and closer relationship with India. (ANI)

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Karnataka Polls: 52 Fresh Faces In BJP’s First List

By LokMarg 11th April 2023

BJP on Tuesday declared the first list of candidates for Karnataka assembly polls, declaring names on 189 seats.

The candidates were announced at a press conference addressed by union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is the party’s poll incharge in Karnataka, and party general secretary Arun Singh.
Arun Singh said that the party has given tickets to several young faces.

“Fifty-two out of 189 are fresh candidates,” he said.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will recontest from the Shiggaon constituency.

Arun Singh said 32 candidates belong to the OBC community while the list has 30 candidates from the Scheduled Caste community.

He said BJP’s graph is growing under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Congress is facing divisions and groupism while JD-S is a sinking ship,” he said.

BJP leaders said that the party has done an elaborate exercise of feedback before deciding on party candidates and expressed confidence of the party again forming government in the southern state.

Congress has already declared 166 candidates in two lists.

The polling will take place for 224 assembly seats on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI)

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Seize My House 50 Times, Will Continue To Raise Public Issues: Rahul

By LokMarg 11th April 2023

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre and said that irrespective of the attacks the ruling party unleashes at him, the former MP is not going to stop from raising the issues of the public, and nobody can stop him from representing his erstwhile Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad.

He was addressing a public meeting at Wayanad, after holding a road show in the constituency along with his sister and party leader Priyanka Gandhi.
“Now when I am not an MP, I thought about what it means to be an MP. It means to be a people representative. For that, you have to understand the emotions, sufferings, and difficulties of the people. You should have the ability to touch and treat people like equals, and at times as your superiors. So, a true representative of people develops by giving things that you desire, by fighting for what the people desire, by becoming less arrogant and more humble,” he said while addressing the people at Wayanad.

This is his first visit to his erstwhile Lok Sabha constituency Wayanad after his disqualification from Lok Sabha as a court in Surat convicted him in a defamation case on the ‘Modi surname’ remark.

Spelling out the job of an MP, he said, the main task of the member of Parliament is to raise the issues of the people without fear.

Terming the position of MP as just a “Tag”, he said, “MP is just a tag, a position, a post. BJP can take away my tag, my position, my house, or put me in jail, but they cannot stop me from representing the people of Wayanad. To represent the people of Wayanad, means to represent their issues. There are practical things, buffer zone, night roads, and medical colleges. And I will keep on working on these issues. Don’t think that if I am not an MP, they have disqualified me, and our relationship has ended. Not for 3-4 years, not for my entire life, my relationship won’t be changed,” he said.

The former MP said that he finds it surprising that BJP has not been able to “understand” their opponent even after so many years.

“I have been fighting out the BJP for quite some years. And it surprises me, that in so many years they have been unable to understand their opponent. They do not understand that their opponent will not be intimidated. They think that sending police to my house will make me scared, taking away my house will make me disturbed. I was actually happy, that they took away my house. It was not interesting for me to live in that house. I saw hundreds of hundreds of people losing their house in Wayanad during the floods,” Rahul Gandhi said.

He further added, “Seize my house 50 times, but I will continue to raise the issues of the people of Wayanad and the people of India. You make people fight, and you abuse and threaten people, I will keep fighting for the people and respecting every single community, religion and idea. You continue to be as nasty and evil as you want, and I will continue to be as kind as I can. Because this is a fight between two visions of India. So, we are not scared of your intimidation, in fact, we find it quite amusing”.

He further alleged that he was not asked to speak in parliament, and accused the BJP leaders of “lying” about him.

“I went to Parliament and asked the Prime minister some questions about a businessman. I asked Mr Modi please explain your relationship with Mr Adani. I showed how the defence relationship between India and Israel was transformed, and the rules of the airports were changed, to help Mr Adani. The Prime Minister did not answer. The first time you saw, the government himself not allowing the Parliament to function,” Rahul Gandhi said.

The former Congress President added that the more BJP attacks him, the more he will continue to walk on the right path.

“The rule is that if anyone says anything about an MP, he has the right to reply. I went to Speaker with that rule, also but still, I was not allowed to speak. And because the government was uncomfortable with the type of issues I raise, I was removed from the Parliament. Doesn’t matter, it is the biggest gift that you can give me. Because now, I know that if BJP is attacking me, taking my house, and removing me from Parliament, I am doing the right thing. I am not going to stop,” he added. (ANI)

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Cong Wants To Dig Grave Of Modi: Shah

By LokMarg 11th April 2023

Coming down heavily on the Congress, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that Congressmen want to dig the grave of that Prime Minister who made India famous all over the world and who ended terrorism in the North East.

Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party workers at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the BJP Dibrugarh office, Shah said, “The Prime Minister who made India famous all over the world, and who secured India, ended terrorism from the North East, expedited the development of North East, by visiting it over 50 times, who brought many types of schemes in North East, for that PM, these Congressmen are saying ‘Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi’ (Modi, your grave will be dug).”
He said that 130 crore people of the country and all my Assam people are praying day and night for PM Modi’s long life. “The more you abuse, the more the lotus (BJP’s party symbol) will bloom.

Referring to the recently concluded North East polls in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland, Shah said that the BJP is an ally of the ruling government in all three States, while the Congress got wiped out of the State despite Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide Yatra.

“Once upon a time, the North East was considered to be the bastion of Congress, now the party has been wiped out from here despite Rahul Gandhi’s Yatra,” the Home Minister said.

Taking note of Rahul Gandhi’s critical speeches on foreign shores, Shah said if Gandhi continues to follow the same path, then the grand old party will be wiped out of the country.

“Rahul Baba Abhi Bhi Samajh Jaao, Abhi North East Mein Supda Saaf Hua Hai, Yahi Raaste Par Chale To Deshbhar Mein Supda Saaf Ho Jaayega,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, Shah launched the ‘Vibrant Villages Programme’ in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kibithoo and said “No one can encroach even pin’s tip worth of our land” and that “no one has the power to cast an evil eye on us”.

The Home Minister said that no one can cast their “evil eye” on India in today’s time as the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Indian Army are guarding the borders. (ANI)

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Modi Fulfilled Balasaheb’s Dream Of Ram Mandir: Shinde

By LokMarg 9th April 2023

In an apparent attack at the Uddhav Thackeray faction, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who arrived in Ayodhya on Sunday, said that “some people” are allergic to Hindutva, saying only PM Modi has fulfilled Balasaheb Thackeray’s dream of Ram Mandir.

“Some are not happy with our Ayodhya Yatra. Some are allergic to Hindutva… Shiv Sena and BJP have the same ideology…,” CM Eknath Shinde said while addressing the reporters in Ayodhya.
He further criticised the Opposition for not contributing for the construction of Ram Temple.

“Nobody did anything for the Ram Mandir only PM Modi did…He has fulfilled Balasaheb Thackeray’s dream of Ram Mandir. Uddhav Thackeray went against his father’s legacy for the greed of power,”he added.

Shinde expressed satisfaction that the dream of “Hindu Hriday Samrat” Balasaheb Thackeray and crores of Ram bhakts is being fulfilled.

“Construction of a grand divine Ram temple in Ayodhya was the dream of millions of Ram devotees’ which has been made true by the PM. After becoming CM, I came here for the first time. With the blessings of Lord Ram, we got our symbol of bow & arrow and the name of our party. Ram Temple is not a political topic for us, it’s our faith.”

Earlier in the day, CM Shinde said his faction of Shiv Sena got the symbol of ‘bow and arrow’ as the blessings of Lord Ram are with them.

“Lord Ram’s blessings are with us and that is why we have got the symbol of bow and arrow,” Shinde told reporters in Lucknow while leaving for the temple town.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with fellow Shiv Sena MPs, arrived in Ayodhya on Sunday.

This is Shinde’s first visit to the temple town since being sworn in as Maharashtra chief minister in June last year.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also arrived in Ayodhya on Sunday.

Both CM Shinde and his deputy Fadnavis were accorded a warm welcome on their arrival to the temple town.

“I am very happy that I am going to Ayodhya to take blessings from Lord Ram,” Fadnavis said after reaching Lucknow on Sunday.

Shinde and other Shiv Sena leaders flew down to Lucknow on Saturday. Shinde was welcomed by his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath at the Lucknow airport, amid fanfare.

CM will visit the ongoing construction site of Ram Mandir.

To welcome Shinde, the Shiv Sena put up big banners with his image, in Ayodhya. (ANI)

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