06 February,2024 02:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Pic: PTI File
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Bala Nandgaonkar gifted a brick that he had brought after the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya to Raj Thackeray on Tuesday.
Nandgaonkar asserted that Raj Thackeray, the chief of MNS, is the heir of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray's ideology.
The 16th century Babri masjid was demolished by "kar sevaks" in 1992, and Bal Thackeray had expressed pride if any of his followers had participated in the demolition.
Bal Thackeray has often been quoted as saying "he was proud if any of his Sainiks had taken part in the demolition of the structure".
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Nandgaonkar said he had kept the brick with him for 32 years.
"I always wanted to gift it to (Shiv Sena founder) Balasaheb Thackeray once the construction of Ram Temple got over. Sadly, the temple is there but Balasaheb is not with us," the former MLA said.
"Thus, I decided to gift it to Raj Thackeray, who is taking forward Balasaheb's thoughts in the true sense. Raj Thackeray is the heir of Balasaheb's ideology," he said after gifting the brick to his party head.
Nandgaonkar said he had gone to Ayodhya on December 6, 1992 for the Babri mosque demolition. "There were many Shiv Sena workers with me for the kar seva," he said.
"I would like to bring back home a brick from the current site of the Ram temple as a souvenir," he added.
The consecration of Ram Lalla's idol at the Ayodhya temple was held on January 22 this year.
Meanwhile, Raj Thackeray on Friday, February 2 said that while the people are happy with the inauguration of new Ram temple in Ayodhya, it doesn't necessarily translate into votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) solely based on the temple issue during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a press conference Thackeray maintained a non-committal stance on his party's participation in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, which are just a few months away.
Thackeray said, "No one can predict the result of the Lok Sabha polls. Let the elections happen. People are happy with the Ram temple, but it does not mean they will vote for the BJP." (With inputs from PTI)
