Raj Thackeray puts much-hyped Ayodhya visit on hold, says he will give reasons at Pune rally

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut advises MNS chief to wise up to BJP’s ‘manipulation’

After much hype, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Friday announced that he was putting his June 5 visit to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh temporarily on hold.

Mr. Raj Thackeray, who took to Twitter to announce his decision, further said that he would speak in detail on the reasons for his postponement during his rally slated at Pune’s Ganesh Kala Krida Kendra on May 22 (Sunday). According to sources, health reasons may have played a part in Mr. Raj Thackeray’s decision.

The MNS chief’s proposed visit has been vociferously opposed by Uttar Pradesh MP Brij Bhushan Singh, who had demanded an apology from Mr. Raj Thackeray on account of the MNS’ past “mistreatment of north Indians” and the party’s regional chauvinism.

However, the MNS chief had refused to respond to Mr. Singh.

Mr. Raj Thackeray’s partymen had assaulted a number of north Indian aspirants across the State during the railway recruitment exams in 2008, demanding that local Maharashtrians be given jobs in their lieu.  

Following the temporary postponement of the visit, Mr. Singh responded by calling the MNS chief “an unfortunate person” who would have done well to “seek forgiveness from U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Modi” for his actions against north Indians.

“Bad fortune is dogging his [Raj Thackeray’s] heels… had he sought forgiveness from Yogi Adityanath or PM Modi, this [postponement] would not have happened. But, by not apologising, the old wounds have reopened. Now, he will not be allowed into any province in north India and there will be plenty of people besides me to oppose him,” said Mr. Singh.