Eknath Shinde, the chief minister of Maharashtra, will go to Ayodhya on Sunday along with other Shiv Sena lawmakers.
After being sworn in as the chief minister of Maharashtra in June of last year, this is Shinde’s first trip to the temple town. Devendra Fadnavis, the deputy chief minister, also left Mumbai for Ayodhya on Sunday.
On Saturday, Shinde and other Shiv Sena officials travelled to Lucknow. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, greeted Shinde warmly as he arrived at the Lucknow airport.
On the banks of the Saryu River, the Maharashtra chief minister will lead a “aarti.” He will also travel to the Ram Mandir building site.
It’s not a political visit, I promise. I often go to Ayodhya, but this is my first visit as chief minister. All of our party leaders want to get Lord Ram’s blessings. I would want to express my gratitude to Yogi-ji and his ministers for coming to greet us, Shinde told ANI.
The Shiv Sena erected large banners in Ayodhya with Shinde’s picture as a welcome.
At a news conference before to departing for Lucknow, CM Shinde said, “We will be heading to Ayodhya to seek Lord Ram’s blessings on April 9. We made this trip because we were compelled to by our religion and beliefs. The Aarti will be performed. I vividly recall that Anand Dighe, who the Maharashtra chief minister regards as his guru, dispatched a Karsevak to Ayodhya with a silver brick, according to Dharmveer Anand Dhigana. We will also be attending the temple since we have a long-standing relationship with Ram Lalla.
He said that after receiving the Bow and Arrow insignia, the Shiv Sena leaders wanted to visit Ayodhya.
“We’ll participate in the events the seers have planned in Ayodhya.
Shinde remarked, “Before, seers were slaughtered in Palghar, but now we will safeguard them,” in a jab at his predecessor Uddhav Thackeray.
The Palghar incident took place during Uddhav’s previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) administration.
