Shiv Sena UBT criticises silence on Ram Mandir irregularities and NEET paper leak ‘scam’

Mumbai, June 27 (IANS) The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Saturday accused the ruling political leadership and Hindutva outfit ‘Sakal Hindu Samaj’ of maintaining a hypocritical silence over the alleged theft and financial irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir and the NEET paper leak scandal.

It has questioned why organisations that frequently take to the streets over issues like ‘Love Jihad,’ religious conversions, and cow slaughter have remained completely passive when major irregularities involve individuals within their own ideological fold.

The Thackeray camp in the scathing editorial of party mouthpiece Saamana claimed that The Sakal Hindu Samaj is sleeping like Kumbhakarna.” It taunted, “while a restless Lord Ram and his family have, once again, departed for exile.”

The editorial highlighted recent revelations concerning the “loot” of donations, collection boxes, and silver items at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. It pointed out that while a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed and cases were registered against eight individuals, the main suspects, including Champat Rai and other trustees, were allegedly shielded by the government.

“In Ayodhya, individuals linked to the temple and the BJP bought lands at throwaway prices and later sold them back to the Ram Mandir Trust at inflated rates. AAP MP Sanjay Singh provided evidence to the SIT, but it wasn’t investigated. Now, minor figures like Tinnu Yadav and Anukalp Mishra have been arrested by the UP government,” said the editorial.

Taking a sarcastic swipe at the political ecosystem, the editorial suggested that the ‘Sakal Hindu Samaj’ and top BJP leaders only raise a “loud voice for Hindutva” if a Muslim name is involved.

“Should someone spread a rumour that Tinnu and Mishra are actually Muslims operating under fake Hindu names just to wake up the Sakal Hindu Samaj?” the editorial asked sharply, adding that because the accused are Hindu, these organisations have “closed their eyes and mouths.”

The Thackeray camp expanded its criticism beyond Ayodhya, linking the silence of these pro-Hindutva groups to the massive NEET-UG examination paper leak scandal.

The editorial said that Maharashtra emerged as a major hub for the paper leak, with eight to ten individuals and a coaching class owner arrested. It underscored that these accused individuals possess strong Hindutva and BJP connections, saying that the scam has devastated the lives of thousands of Hindu children, driving some to suicide, yet the ‘Sakal Hindu Samaj’ has failed to hit the streets to protect the interests of these youths.

The editorial further highlighted instances of political compromise and corruption that went unprotested. It claimed that BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari stated that cows older than 14 years could be slaughtered, yet no Hindutva outfits organised protest marches in West Bengal against this stance. It alleged financial mismanagement and “loot” at the holy Mahakal Temple in Ujjain under the BJP-led state government, noting that leaders have remained quiet.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena argued that the Ram Mandir awakened Hindutva and served as the political launchpad for the current leadership, yet the deity’s own temple is now being plundered.

–IANS

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