'Deferred Ayodhya visit as developments around it were ploy to trap MNS workers'

MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday claimed that political developments around his proposed Ayodhya visit were a ploy to trap his party workers into legal tangles and hence he decided to defer his trip to the Uttar Pradesh cityAddressing an indoor rally at a hall in Pune city of Maharashtra Thackeray said he has to undergo surgery on June 1 and after recovering from it he would again address a public meetingHe reiterated that the MNS workers will resume agitation if loudspeakers atop mosques do not follow the noise rules Thackeray had earlier asked his party workers to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques where loudspeakers play azaanAmid the controversy over an AIMIM leaders recent visit to Mughal ruler Aurangzebs tomb in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra the MNS leader appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modiled Centre to change the name of Aurangabad to Sambhaji Nagar and to bring the Uniform Civil CodeTaking a swipe at NCP chief who had addressed a rally braving rain before the Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2019 Thackeray said We were planning a gathering in an open space but considering the possibility of rain we decided to hold it indoors Also there are no elections nearby to stand in rain for giving a speechOn Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray recently slamming the BJPs fake Hindutva the MNS president said The CM claimed their Hindutva is real Are they talking about a washing powder like whos detergent is better than the otherHe claimed the MNS has shown results on the issue of Hindutva in the wake of his partys protest against loudspeakers on mosquesOn Friday Raj Thackeray had announced that his visit to Ayodhya scheduled on June 5 has been put on hold for now and said he would share the details about it during his Sunday rally in PuneHe has been facing stiff opposition from Uttar Pradesh BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who has warned that Raj Thackeray will not be allowed to enter Ayodhya till he tendered a public apology for humiliating north Indians in the pastOn Sunday Raj Thackeray said that many people were happy when he posted the message about deferring his Ayodhya visit while some did not like itI was watching things which were being discussed after I had announced the Ayodhya visit Later I got to know that it was a trap It started in Maharashtra he claimedHe said those who didnt like his plan to go to Ayodhya started creating issues around his visitRaj Thackeray said he not only wanted to visit the Ram Janmabhoomi but also the place where karsevaks were killed back then after the 1992 Babri mosque demolitionIf I had been adamant on going there and if something would have happened our supporters would have taken it headon But they might be booked in cases And it would have affected the MNS during elections I sensed this is a trap I prefer to accept criticism for deferring the Ayodhya visit but dont want our party workers to get into legal issues he saidOn BJP parliamentarian Brij Bhushan Singh opposing his Ayodhya visit Raj Thackeray said How can one MP challenge the Uttar Pradesh chief ministerThe MNS chief also revealed that he was suffering from pain in leg and waist and has to undergo a hip bone surgery on June 1After recovery I will again hold a public rally he saidRaj Thackeray also said the MNS will continue to oppose loudspeakers on mosques and resume agitation if they do not follow the noise level guidelinesHe also targeted independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLAhusband Ravi Rana who were last month arrested after they announced to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside CM Uddhav Thackerays private residence Matoshree in MumbaiIs Matoshree a Masjid the MNS chief askedHe also claimed that following an agitaiton by the MNS against road toll tax 70 to 80 toll plazas have been shut so farClaiming that CM Uddhav Thackeray does not protest on relevant issues the MNS leader asked if the chief minister has any case against him for holding an agitationFurther hitting out at the ruling allies Shiv Sena NCP and Congress in Maharashtra Raj Thackeray said when they were in power at the Centre they did not change the name of Aurangabad but kept the issue alive to get votesHe appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to change the name of Aurangabad to Sambhaji NagarHe also appealed to the PM to bring the Uniform Civil Code and norms to control populationRaj Thackeray also claimed that some parties in Maharashtra were supporting the AIMIM for political gains noting that a leader from the Asaduddin Owaisiled party got elected from Aurangabad defeating the SenaThe MNS leader also termed AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisis recent visit to Mughal emperor Aurangzebs tomb in Aurangabad as shocking and hit out at NCP chief Sharad Pawar over the controversyDoes Sharad Pawar think Aurangzeb was a saint He says Aurangzeb came to expand his empire Didnt he come to kill Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj This is now being forgotten Raj Thackeray saidHe also asked who were those funding the development of Aurangzebs shrine in AurangabadThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever