‘Parted Ways With BJP, Not Hindutva’: Uddhav Thackeray In Ayodhya

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday (7 March) said he parted ways with the BJP, and not Hindutva while visiting the temple town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh for the first time after he became the chief minister of Maharashtra, reports Hindustan Times.

He also announced a donation of Rs 1 crore from his own trust for the construction of Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh.

“I have parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), not Hindutva. BJP and Hindutva are not the same. BJP is not Hindutva,” Uddhav Thackeray said. "BJP does not mean Hindutva... Hindutva is one thing, BJP is another," Thackeray told reporters in the city.

"I came here to seek blessings of Lord Ram. This is my third visit to Ayodhya in the last one-and-a-half years," the Maharashtra Chief Minister said.

Thackeray said he also wanted to take part in the 'Saryu Aarti' but changed his plan due to the coronavirus outbreak.

He also appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to set up a Maharashtra Bhawan in Ayodhya so that Marathis don't face any problems in finding a place to stay during their visit to the city.

(With IANS Inputs)