Sena's stand on Ayodhya issue a 'nautanki': Congress

The Congress in Maharashtra Thursday dismissed as "nautanki" (drama) the Shiv Sena's announcement that its chief Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya after Dussehra to reaffirm his party's commitment to the issue.

Senior Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil asked the Sena to implement its threat to walk out of the BJP-led coalition governments at Centre and in Maharashtra before playing politics on the Ram temple issue.

Sena's announcement came a day after Ram Janmabhoomi Trust chief Janmejay Sharanji Maharaj met Thackeray at the party's headquarters Sena Bhawan here.

Earlier in the day, Sena leader Sanjay Raut said only his party has the "courage" to build a Ram temple in Ayodhyha.

"The Sena had made the announcement to quit the government 235 times in the past, but still continues to remain in power with this anti-people and anti-farmer government. Sena's statement on Ayodhya is nothing but a nautanki," said the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly.

Attacking the BJP, he said the saffron party has been "attacking" Mahatma Gandhi's twin principles of truth and non-violence, but still has no qualms in celebrating his birth anniversary.

Ram temple construction in Ayodhya has been one of the core issues of the BJP, which is an ally of the Shiv Sena.

The Sena, which has resolved to go solo in the future elections, has often targeted the BJP for "delaying" the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya despite having a majority.

The Supreme Court recently declined to refer to a five-judge Constitution bench the issue of reconsideration of the observations in its 1994 judgement that a mosque was not integral to Islam which had arisen during the hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute.