Wake up Kumbhakarna, give date for Ram temple construction: Uddhav to Centre

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday asked the central government to announce the date of Ram temple construction in Ayodhya and assured full support if it brings in an ordinance.

"We want the date when the temple will be made. First, tell us when you will make the temple, then we can talk on other things. Today I want the date. I don't want to take credit for the construction of Ram temple, we want a date," he emphasised adding, "Today I have come here to tell the Centre that earlier Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government was formed under coalition, hence at that time raising the issue of Ram temple may have been difficult. But today's central government is a strong one."

Invoking Kumbhakarna, a mythological character from the Ramayana, Thackeray while addressing a gathering said his Ayodhya visit was to wake up the present-day Kumbhakarna (the central government), who, he said, has been sleeping for the past four years.

"When I was coming here, some people asked me why you want to come here. Is there politics behind this because elections are near? My answer was quite simple. We recall those, whom we forget. I am not here to do politics. Today is an important day in my life. Every Hindu wants the Ram temple to be made. Today I have come here to wake up Kumbhakarna. Kumbhakarna was not just a part of Ramayana; he is there today also. Kumbhakarna used to sleep for six months in Ramayana, but present-day Kumbhakarna has been sleeping for four years. So, I have come here to wake him up," he noted.

The Shiv Sena chief further requested all to come together to help in the construction of the Ram temple. "Every Hindu desire that the temple is built as soon as possible. If you are going to bring the Ordinance on the Ram temple, then the Shiv Sena will definitely support you. I want all to come together and make the Ram temple. That way the construction work can be completed as soon as possible," he added.

Thackeray, along with his son Aditya, offered prayers at the Sarayu river here, a day ahead of the mass event, organised by various wings of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, especially the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Shiv Sena to muster support to build pressure on the central government for the construction of Ram Temple at the site where the Babri Masjid stood.

Ayodhya is once again witnessing a tense situation. Police personnel are barricading almost all crossroads due to which pilgrims are forced to walk on the streets to travel from one place to another.

The Supreme Court, on October 29, had adjourned the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit till January 2019 to fix the next hearing date in the matter, challenging the Allahabad High Court ruling of 2010. The Allahabad High Court in its 2010 verdict had suggested a division of the disputed land in Ayodhya -- one for each of the parties the Nirmohi Akhara, the Sunni Waqf Board and Ram Lalla.

Babri Masjid, known to have been constructed by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528, was allegedly demolished by right-wing groups on December 6, 1992, who claimed that the mosque was built after demolishing the Ram Temple to the ground.