Sanjay Raut urges Fadnavis to participate in Sena’s (UBT) ‘Ram Raksha Andolan’

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. File | Photo credit: ANI

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday (July 16, 2026) invited Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to attend the ‘Ram Raksha Andolan’ organized by his party on July 18 in Nagpur against the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Sena (UBT) chief and former state CM Uddhav Thackeray had earlier said that he would participate in the Ram Raksha Andolan organized by the party in CM Fadnavis’ hometown Nagpur on Saturday (July 16).

In a letter to Mr. Fadnavis, Mr. Raut wrote that the CM had often said that he participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi “liberation” movement in Ayodhya.

“Today, crimes like theft, robbery and fraud are allegedly taking place in this very Ram Temple and hundreds of crores of rupees are alleged to have been embezzled,” the Sen (UBT) leader said in a letter posted on his Facebook page.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) itself expressed “sorrow” over the reported thefts in Ayodhya, a Rajya Sabha member said.

“To create public awareness about the alleged looting linked to the Ram temple, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has launched the ‘Ram Raksha’ campaign. Understand that ‘Ram Raksha’ means ‘protection of Lord Ram’,” Raut said and invited Mr. Fadnavis to participate in the agitation.

The alleged misappropriation of donations from the Ram temple came to light last month, following which the Uttar Pradesh government on June 13 set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations.

After the SIT’s preliminary report was submitted on June 23, an FIR was registered on June 25 and eight accused were arrested.

Published – 16 Jul 2026 12:33 IST