Ahead of tour, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde flags off Ayodhya train

THANE: Chief minister Eknath Shinde expressed content that their Shiv Sena-led Ayodhya tour has revived devotion towards lord Rama among the opposition.
Shinde was responding to a media query about Congress leader Nana Patole saying they are also Ram bhakts and would soon take his darshan.
"Ayodhya is a matter of pride for us and we are eager to get a glimpse of lord Ram soon... We are happy that they (Patole) have been indirectly influenced by us to seek the glimpse of Ram lalla (lord Ram)," he told the media after flagging off a special train to Ayodhya Friday evening from platform 7 at Thane.
Shinde along with Sena colleagues had last week announced their plans to visit Ayodhya. A team from Thane has already camped in the temple city to oversee the preparations for Shinde's visit on Sunday.
Shinde said nearly 3000 Sainiks and Ram devotees would reach Ayodhya to get a glimpse of the deity and they are happy that prime minister Narendra Modi has helped realise the dream of scores of Ram bhakts and even Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray who always wanted a grand temple structure dedicated to lord Rama at Ayodhya.
Shinde will travel to Lucknow Saturday night and take a helicopter ride next day to Ayodhya where he will visit the Ram Mandir construction work also perform Maha Aarti there as well as at the banks of Saryu river. The Maharahstra chief minister Will also meet UP CM Yogi Adityanath Sunday night in Lucknow before returning to Mumbai.
Meanwhile, the Sena said they will beam Shindes Ayodhya tour at all shakhas.