 chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case){kind=link}
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray alleged that the BJP could be using the alleged Ram Temple donation scam for political gains
July 3, 2026: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP over the alleged Ram Temple donation embezzlement case, claiming that the party might be using the funds to “break political parties.” His remarks came days after six MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, a constituent of the BJP-led NDA. Thackeray questioned whether the BJP was carrying out an “Operation Ram Mandir” to engineer political defections.
Addressing a press conference, Thackeray alleged there was evidence of theft in the Ram Temple donation case and claimed that some people believed the stolen money was being used to influence legislators. Referring to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he said Hindus would not forgive those responsible if temple funds had been misused. Thackeray also said he was willing to visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and reiterated Shiv Sena’s historical role in the Ram Temple movement.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief also announced a Maharashtra-wide “Ram Raksha” campaign, under which party leaders will visit Mumbai’s Dadar Hanuman Temple to recite the Ram Raksha Stotra, Maruti Stotra and Hanuman Chalisa. Inviting people across political lines to participate, Thackeray said the campaign was aimed at protesting the alleged misuse of Ram Temple donations. His remarks come amid internal challenges within the party following recent defections and calls for introspection by senior leader Sanjay Raut.