Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde thanks PM Modi for fulfilling Balasaheb’s Ram Mandir dream

THANE: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, late on Sunday, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for realising the dream of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and making the Ayodhya Ram Mandir a reality.

Shinde was speaking at a Ram Navami rally held in Wagle Estate. Addressing the assembled crowd, Shinde said he has been participating in the rally for the last several years and that he had come today in the capacity of a Ram bhakt and not as Deputy CM.

"It was Balasahebs dream to construct a Ram temple in ayodhya. I am proud of our Prime minister Narendra Modi for constructing the temple and realizing the dream of Balasaheb... earlier, people used to mock us by saying 'mandir wahi banayenge magar tarikh nahi batayenge,' meaning that they promised to construct the temple but were non committed about when. However, Modi not just announced the date but also constructed the temple. Now, Ram temples are being constructed in many countries also," he said.