Nagpur: Days before Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray sets foot in Nagpur for his ongoing Ram Raksha Andolan in protest against the donation theft at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, the event landed in controversy on chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ home turf.The scheduled July 18 ‘andolan’ hit its first roadblock with the famous Shri Ram Mandir in Ramnagar, where Fadnavis is a life member of the management body, said it won’t allow any political event on its premises.Temple Trust president Ravi Waghmare told reporters though no permission has been sought by UBT, we will allow only religious activity. “Chant Ram Raksha, chant Hanuman Chalisa, every devotee can do this. But this is not a political arena. That’s why we have never allowed any party to hold a political agitation here,” Waghmare said. “CM Fadnavis is our life member. But we won’t allow even BJP to hold an agitation here. You should take off your political sandals and come inside the temple,” he added.Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, speaking in Mumbai, questioned how reciting Ram Raksha could be termed political. “We have not yet sought permission. There’s no need for anyone’s nod for Ram Raksha ‘pathan’. CM Fadnavis should support this,” Raut said.The UBT spokesperson was combative when pressed further. “Who has stopped us, and since when? Which temple are you even talking about? I will go to Nagpur on Tuesday. Then, whatever needs to be done, we will decide. We are going to recite Ram Raksha and Hanuman Chalisa. Now if permission is needed for this, then those who wear garlands in the name of Hindutva should think about it. Even if the Trust’s president were Devendraji, he is a Ram devotee, and we too are lifelong devotees of Ram. I don’t think any kind of dispute will arise.”Even BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “Nobody is a lifelong member of a temple. Life is given by Lord Ram. The temple belongs to no party, no person, no caste or religion. Anyone can come to that temple,” Mungantiwar said. “If Devendraji is a trustee (sic) that does that mean Uddhavji shouldn’t enter? On the contrary, Lord Ram’s name should be taken by Uddhavji, Soniaji, Rahul Gandhi. Ram belongs to everyone,” he added. Local UBT workers told TOI they will perform aarti at the temple, hence it won’t clash with temple guidelines.BJP MLC Parinay Fuke, who is also life member of Pashchim Nagpur Nagrik Mandal which manages the temple, said, “Doors of temples are open for everyone, Uddhavji is welcome because finally he remembered Ram.”
