Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena writes to ECI, objects to BJP’s free pilgrimage promise
The Hindu
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Mr. Thackeray said that during the Karnataka Assembly election held in May this year, PM Modi had similarly sought votes along religious lines, asking people to chant ‘Victory to Bajrang Bali’ before casting their votes.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray on November 16 lashed out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent promise to the Madhya Pradesh electorate of a free pilgrimage to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Mr. Thackeray stated that his party had written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) demanding action against Mr. Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for seeking votes on the basis of religion.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Mr. Thackeray said that during the Karnataka Assembly election held in May this year, PM Modi had similarly sought votes along religious lines, asking people to chant ‘Victory to Bajrang Bali’ before casting their votes.
“Is it proper to ask votes based on religion? If that is the case, in the next election, I, too will exhort voters to chant ‘Victory to Bhavani! Victory to Shivaji!’ and ‘Hail Mahadev’ before pressing the EVM button. And then, I will surely tell them to utter ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya’ [referring to Ganesha’s association with intelligence] in order to give these politicians some wisdom to stop seeking votes in this fashion,” said Mr. Thackeray, in a strong rebuke to Mr. Shah and Mr. Modi.
At a recent rally in Raghogarh in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Shah had exhorted voters to give the BJP a mandate in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly election for which the party would ensure the electorate could make a free pilgrimages to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
“Do you want to have darshan of Ramlala or not? You will have to spend [money] for the same. But do not worry about the expenses. Give a mandate to the BJP to form its government on December 3 [results of the MP Assembly election] and the government will make sure you have darshan free of cost,” Mr. Shah had said in Raghogarh.
Also read | Ahead of MP assembly elections, BJP and Congress spar over Ayodhya Ram temple
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