Uddhav Thackeray in Ayodhya LIVE: Shiv Sena Chief Arrives at Faizabad Airport, to Reach Ayodhya Campaign Venue Soon

Firangi Mahali on Ayodhya Issue | Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali today demanded to extend security cover to all Ayodhya residents, claiming that "there is an attempt to recreate the 1992 kind of atmosphere". "It is the responsibility of every citizen to uphold Supreme Court's decision and it is the district administration's and government's responsibility to ensure law and order is maintained in the state. Every resident should be provided security irrespective of their religion," he said.

Traffic Alert for Ayodhya Residents | As soon as Uddhav and Aditya Thackeray arrived in Ayodhya, the central part of the city was sealed. Commuters going towards Udaya Chauraha should avoid the route as movement near the junction has been stopped. People are being diverted to other routes. Some residents complain that they are unable to reach their homes due to tight security cover and barricades.

Ramdev Says People Have 'Only 2 Options' in Ayodhya Issue | As Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray arrived in Ayodhya, yoga guru Baba Ramdev said that now people have only two options for Ram Temple. "First is to pass a bill in Parliament, second is construction of temple by people themselves. The court has delayed the issue of so much that the people are losing their patience. So, people of the country are left with two options, either an ordinance be brought in the Parliament or people will make it themselves," he said.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray Arrives in Ayodhya | Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has arrived at Faizabad Airport along with his son Aditya. The Thackerays are now heading towards Hotel Panchvati and will later arrive at Ayodhya's Laxman Quila for Ashirwaad Sammelan. The party chief will perform rituals as part of a campaign to raise the pitch for the construction of a Ram temple. 

Shiv Sena MP Slams Akhilesh Over 'Need for Army in Ayodhya' Remark | Slamming Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav over 'Need for Army in Ayodhya' statement, Maharashtra PWD minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said that former UP minister was just politicising the issue. "We are not interested in politics right row. We have come to Ayodhya for construction of Ram temple. Our show will be peaceful as party president Uddhav Thackeray only wishes to see Ram Mandir here," he said. Yadav had on Friday demanded that the Supreme Court should take note of the prevailing situation in Ayodhya and consider deploying Army to maintain peace and ensure security of the people. He had said that "BJP and its allies can go to any extent". 

Mayawati said that BJP and Shiv Sena raked up Ram Mandir issue ahead of 2019 general elections to divert attention from their failure.

Congress on Ayodhya-Ram Temple Issue | Chief Spokesperson of UP Congress Committee, Rajiv Bakshi, said that the BJP just wants to politicise the Ayodhya issue, and never build Ram temple. "I wonder if BJP is sending its own people to Ayodhya. If anything happens and law order is disturbed, then we will demand immediate resignation of Centre and state governments of Modi and Yogi," he said.

Uddhav Thackeray to Arrive in Ayodhya Shortly | Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will arrive at Faizabad Airport shortly. Party members have already gathered outside to welcome their president. Shiv Sena lawmakers Sanjay Raut and Eknath Shinde will receive Thackeray at the airport.

After Ayodhya, Security Beefed Up in Lucknow | Meanwhile, security has also been beefed up in Uttar Pradesh's capital, Lucknow. Besides police deployment in Ayodhya, ADG (Law and Order), ADG Lucknow Zone and Director General of Police (DGP) are monitoring security measures in the city. The officers are also keeping a tab on social media and other anti-social elements that could lead to any untoward incident.

UP Minister Says Army Should be Deployed in Ayodhya | Welcoming Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav's remark, Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar today said that despite Section 144 enforced in Ayodhya, the administration has allowed people to assemble in the temple town. "It means they have failed. The Army should be brought," he said. Yadav had on Friday demanded that the Supreme Court should take note of the prevailing situation in Ayodhya and consider deploying Army to maintain peace and ensure security of the people. He had said that "BJP and its allies can go to any extent". 

Mayawati Slams BJP, Allies Over Ayodhya Issue | The Bhaujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati has slammed Bhartiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh for organizing ‘Dharm Sabha’ in Ayodhya. Speaking to media on Saturday, Mayawati alleged that BJP and allies like VHP and RSS are hand in glove to divert attention of the people from their failures.

To divert attention from their failures, they raised #RamMandir issue. Had their intentions been good they needn't have waited for 5 yrs. It's their political tactics&nothing else. Whatever their associates like Shiv Sena&VHP are doing is part of their conspiracy.: Mayawati (2/2) pic.twitter.com/mX1KnZdHNp

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2018

Demand for Ram Temple Resonates in Karnataka as Well | The demand for a Ram Temple in Ayodhya is now resonating in South India as well where seer of Pejawar Mutt in Karnataka said that the Union government should either promulgate an ordinance or get a law passed in the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of the Mutt said on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a majority in the Lok Sabha. Hence, it can promulgate an ordinance for the construction of the Ram Temple. Or, it can also call a joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament and get a law for the construction of the Ram Temple passed. According to a report in The Hindu, Swami said that the Opposition parties could only approach courts in the matter. “The Congress is not in a position to oppose such an ordinance as this will adversely impact it in the Parliamentary elections,” he said.

Shiv Sena Has Come to Ayodhya to Awaken 'Kumbhkaran' BJP | Shiv Sena leader Vijay Shivtare questioned the intent of BJP. "A few years ago, Sushama Swaraj had said that Ram temple issue was like an encashed cheque. What was its value? This shows the attitude of BJP towards Ram Mandir," he told CNN-News18. Gulabrao Patil, another senior Shiv Sena leader, claimed that the BJP had forgotten the Hindutva agenda. "We are the true Hindutva party. We want to tell them that they have been sleeping like Kumbhakarna. We have come to wake them up," he said.

Lord Ram Has Been Banished in BJP's Rule in UP: Shiv Sena | Shiv Sena in its editorial in 'Saamna' today likened BJP to Ramayana's mythical sleeping giant, Kumbhkaran. It said that the saffron party ran away after demolition of Babri masjid. "The Hindus don't accept runaways as their leaders. We owned up the responsibility of Babri demolition," Shiv Sena said. "You promised Ram Mandir, but you back-stabbed the cause. Today, Prabhu Ram is vanvaasi in your rule in Uttar Pradesh," it said.

'Yogi Govt Can Never Fire Bullets at Kar Sevaks': UP Minister Hits Out at Akhilesh Yadav Over Ayodhya Issue | Hitting out at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, UP Minority Affairs minister Mohin Raza said, "Our government can do anything but will never fire bullets at Kar Sevaks. Akhilesh should stop making such comments." Yadav had on Friday demanded that the Supreme Court should take note of the prevailing situation in Ayodhya and consider deploying Army to maintain peace and ensure security of the people. He had said that "BJP and its allies can go to any extent".

Swami Swaroopanand Sarawasti Alleges BJP Wants to Divert Attention by Raising Temple Issue | With the issue of Ram Temple at disputed site in Ayodhya once again coming in forefront by Bharatiya Janata Party and allies ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha Election, Shankaracharya of Jyotish and Sharda Dwarka peeth’s Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati has alleged that the BJP governments at Centre and in state are trying to divert the attention of the people from their basic problems. Speaking to media in Varanasi at Param Dharm Sansad on Friday, Swami Swaroopanand Sarawasti said, “The Dharm Sabha in Ayodhya is just an eye-wash, the government is not responsible for construction of any temple, church or mosque. Raising the temple issue is now a diversion for people from their real problems. There was no mosque at the disputed site when I had visited Ayodhya, but what BJP, RSS and VHP did, by demolishing the structure in an attempt to prove that it was a mosque, was even worse.” “They also damaged Ram Chabutara, Hanuman temple and other Hindu structures and now they speak about bringing an ordinance on the issue when the 67 acres of land had already been acquired in Ayodhya during the regime of PV Narshimha Rao,” said Swami Swaroopanand Sarawasti.

Muslim Group Opposes Film on Ayodhya | A Muslim organisation in Maharashtra has opposed the release of a Hindi film on the Ayodhya issue and urged the Censor Board to withhold clearance, saying it is intended to create hatred in the society. The film, "Ram Janmbhoomi", has been written and produced by Shia Waqf Board chairman Syed Waseem Rizvi. Rizvi had released the trailer of the film, which chronicles the events during the Ram Temple movement since October 30, 1990. The Maharashtra Muslim Awami Committee (MMCA) has taken strong objection to the release of the trailer, saying the film deals with a subject which is sub-judice (the Ram Janmbhoomi-Babri Masjid case is in the Supreme Court). Committee president Iliyas Kirmani claimed the film is intended to create hatred in the society.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray leaves his residence. He will board a chartered flight to Ayodhya along with his son Aditya.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray leaves from his residence. He will reach Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya today for a two-day visit. VHP and Shiv Sena will hold separate events in the city tomorrow over the matter of #RamTemple. pic.twitter.com/tPFewtVLVN

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2018

'Lord Ram Who Blessed BJP With Political Fortunes is Still in Vanvaas': Shiv Sena's Latest Attack | Drawing heavily from Ramayana, Shiv Sena targeted BJP yet again ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's Ayodhya visit. "You purified many Vaalyas for your personal gains (reference to Rishi Valmiki). But the Ram who blessed you with political fortunes, is still in vanvaas (exile). The 'Maharabharat' in Ayodhya today, is over Ram Mandir. We all must fight for Ram Mandir in Ramjanmabhoomi now. Maharashtra has built a Ramsetu till Ayodhya now. We are travelling to Ayodhya on the same Ramsetu," Saamana blared on Saturday. 

CNN-News18 reporter informs us that till now the situation in temple town of Ayodhya seems peaceful even as nearly 7,000 Shiv Sena workers have arrived for Udhhav Thackeray's visit.

#UddhavInAyodhya – Faizabad and Ayodhya are quite calm right now. Around 6-7,000 Shiv Sainiks have lodged in who have arrived from Maharashtra. Overall, the body language and procession seems peaceful.

Detailed inputs by @pranshumisraa. pic.twitter.com/d0Fo7OR2Dj

— News18 (@CNNnews18) November 24, 2018

Security personnel deployed in Ayodhya ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's visit.

Visuals of security in Ayodhya. VHP and Shiv Sena will hold separate events in the city tomorrow over the matter of #RamTemple. pic.twitter.com/cD0PPn0GHI

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 24, 2018

Thousands of Shiv Sainiks across Maharashtra will simultaneously hold 'aarti' to accompany the party chief. In Mumbai, Thackeray's wife, Rashmi, will lead an 'aarti' at the famous Siddhivinayak temple in the evening.

Shiv Sainiks Arrive in Ayodhya | The Shiv Sena, for its show of strength, is expecting around 4,000 sainiks that will be brought in five special trains from Thane. The party is also expecting its 22 MPs and 62 MLAs to attend the two-day event for which it has painted Ayodhya saffron. A senior RSS leader, meanwhile, said 80,000 workers will be brought into the temple town on Sunday in buses, 15,000 by train and another 14,000 will come on motorcycles. 

Security Beefed Up in Ayodhya Ahead of Uddhav Thackeray's Visit | The Faizabad district administration has imposed prohibitory orders (Section 144) at the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Majid disputed site amid reports that the minority community was feeling unsafe and some have started leaving the city fearing violence. The state police has sounded a state-wide alert amid apprehension of trouble during the Dharma Sabha on Sunday. The government has posted ADG (Lucknow zone) Ashutosh Pandey and IG (Jhansi) SS Baghel to oversee the security.  “Extra force comprising 10 companies of Central Paramilitary Force and 68 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary has been deployed to keep a check on the law and order situation. Along with this, the local police force from adjoining districts has been called in,” ASP Ayodhya, Sanjay Kumar said. According to sources, a flood unit of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) will also patrol the Sarayu River, while ATS commandos, along with Bomb-Dosposal Squad will be deployed in order to tackle any unwanted situation.

Shiv Sena's Show of Strength in Ayodhya | While five train-fulls of members of the Shiv Sena started arriving in Ayodhya on Friday night from Maharashtra for party chief Uddhav Thackeray’s two-day visit, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad expects around 1 lakh workers to attend its Dharma Sabha on Monday. Sources told CNN-News18 that another 1 lakh RSS workers will also attend the rally, and contingents of sadhus and seers will also pour into the temple town. For the Ram Mandir clarion call, even slogans have been tweaked, with the ‘mandir wahin banaenge’ chant giving way to ‘mandir jaldi banaenge’. The Shiv Sena also summed up its approach to the issue by saying ‘pehle mandir, fir sarkar’ in a clear message to the BJP as it looks to emerge as the champion of Hindutva on UP soil.

Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya today amid a clamour among Hindu outfits for bringing an ordinance to build Ram Temple. Shiv Sena, which is the part of the BJP-led governments in both Maharashtra and the Centre, has been aggressively pushing for the construction of Ram temple since the party's annual Dussehra rally. The party has often taunted its ally BJP over the latter's "failure" to construct the temple in the last four years despite coming to power. Asked about Sena raising the issue, party MP Sanjay Raut said, "We have always put at stake our reputation for Hindutva, for temple.... We have promised people that we will construct the temple if we form the government but it has not happened."