Sanjay Nirupam Slams Uddhav Thackeray Over Ram Raksha Movement in Nagpur
On Sunday, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam launched a sharp political attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the Ram Mandir in Ram Nagar, Nagpur, accusing him of using Lord Ram's name solely to save his shrinking political faction. The criticism followed a visit to the temple on Saturday by Uddhav Thackeray and his son, Aaditya Thackeray, where they initiated a "Ram Raksha Movement" to protest alleged embezzlement of donations for the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Nirupam claimed that Thackeray and his group had no genuine connection to Lord Ram. He alleged that their recitation of the Ram Raksha Stotra at the temple was a desperate attempt to protect a party that is continuously shrinking, falling apart, and getting destroyed because the public has lost faith in them.
The Shiv Sena spokesperson further targeted Thackeray's stance on Hindutva. Nirupam alleged that the Thackerays abandoned their core ideology in 2019 after aligning with the Congress party. He stated that Thackeray broke his connection with Lord Ram at that time and was only invoking Ram's name now because his party is collapsing. Nirupam compared the alliance with Congress and the subsequent recitation of prayers to Ravana reciting verses in praise of Ram.
In response, Uddhav Thackeray defended his faction's actions and questioned the authorities regarding the alleged donation theft. Speaking on the alleged embezzlement, Thackeray questioned Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat on how the temple's coffers were being looted and asked if the Ram Temple was built to steal donations.
Thackeray denied accusations that his party had abandoned Hindutva by partnering with the Congress, instead accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of betraying its own Hindutva ideology. He declared that his party's Ram Raksha Movement would be expanded across Maharashtra, as well as to Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath, to fight against what he termed "thieves" on behalf of "Ram bhakts." He also demanded a fair investigation into the alleged donation theft.
