Mumbai/Nagpur: Even as Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut visited Shri Ram Mandir in Nagpur’s Ramnagar on Tuesday and confirmed it will be the venue for the party’s July 18 Ram Raksha ‘andolan’ and the temple trust gave its nod to UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray to recite Ram Raksha on their premises, saying all devotees are welcome as long as the visit stays apolitical, CM Devendra Fadnavis questioned the ‘andolan’, pointing out that Uddhav Thackeray could not even read two pages of the ‘Ram Raksha.’Criticising Thackeray, Fadnavis said it was not appropriate to do political agitation in the name of Ram. “Last time too he could not read the Ram Raksha. If he is ready I too can read the Ram Raksha along with him. I know the entire Ram Raksha and supposing I do not know it, at least I should be able to read it. You do the Ram Raksha andolan and you cannot read the Ram Raksha. What kind of an andolan is this?” Fadnavis asked. The agitation was launched by Sena (UBT) on July 5 to highlight the donation theft at the Ayodhya Ram temple and to demand action against those involved.Dy CM Eknath Shinde said, “They (UBT Sena) now speak about Hindutva and recite Ram Raksha after earlier saying it was a mistake to raise Hindutva issues in the assembly. However much they try, they cannot reclaim the Hindutva space after abandoning Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology.”On Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s criticism on the recent Teacher Eligibility Test paper leak, Fadnavis said the govt has taken action proactively. “Those arrested have turned out to be inter-state accused. We have helped avoid paper leaks in other states as well. Steps are being taken to ensure it does not recur. The most significant point is whether Rahul Gandhi is seeking this information while present here in our country or is demanding answers via social media while sitting somewhere abroad,” he said.Terming the recent claims by former union home ministry official R V S Mani on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks as shocking, he said it has raised several questions. “At the time I had raised questions on the intelligence in the assembly. There must be an inquiry in the matter,” he said.Fadnavis denied allegations of privatisation of MSRTC land, clarifying that land ownership would remain with the transport corporation. He said only surplus land is to be developed through the public-private partnership model to ensure long-term financial viability of the public transport network.
