Mumbai, September 16: Ahead of the assembly elections in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray raked up Ram Temple issue on Monday. Thackeray, during a meeting at the BEST Bhavan in Mumbai, said that his party workers are prepared to start Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya. The Shiv Sena chief also expressed confidence in the Narendra Modi government for resolving the issue. He said, “Our Shivsainik's have been asked to prepare to lay the first brick for Ram Temple, our hopes have increased with all that the government is doing, it's not right to keep waiting anymore.” Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2019: Shiv Sena to Go Solo If Seat-Sharing Talks Fail With BJP.

Thackeray also demanded a special law on the on Ram Mandir. “We have demanded a special law on Ram Mandir. We should not wait anymore. A special law should immediately be passed as it is getting delayed from the court,” reported India Today quoting the Shiv Sena Chief as saying. Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2019: BJP-Shiv Sena Alliance Talks Go Awry Over Seat Sharing.

Uddhav Thackeray's Statement:

He asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre to take a bold step to lay out a path for the construction of Ram temple, the way it abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Thackeray also urged the Centre to take strong action against Pakistan for atrocities on Hindus. Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi Title Dispute: Sunni Waqf Board, Nirvani Akhara Want Resumption of Negotiation by SC-Appointed Mediation Panel.

Earlier this month, during an event of laying the foundation stone for three metro lines in Mumbai, Thackeray had made similar remarks. PM Modi was also present at the event. The assembly polls in Maharashtra will take place later this year in October or November. Earlier in the day, reports surfaced that the Shiv Sena chief asked party leaders to be ready to contest the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly Elections solo if seat-sharing talks with the BJP fails.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 16, 2019 05:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).