18 July,2026 12:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray is set to lead the party's 'Ram Raksha Andolan' in Nagpur on Saturday, July 18, as the opposition outfit intensifies its campaign over alleged irregularities in donations made to the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Thackeray, accompanied by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, left Mumbai from Matoshree on Saturday morning for Nagpur to participate in the programme, which is scheduled to begin at 4.30 pm at Ram Mandir in Ramnagar.
The event is expected to witness the participation of party leaders, workers and supporters from across the Vidarbha region.
The Nagpur programme is being viewed as politically significant because the city houses the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), making it an important ideological centre in Maharashtra politics.
Shiv Sena (UBT) has been conducting the 'Ram Raksha Andolan' across Maharashtra, alleging irregularities in the handling of donations made by devotees at the Ayodhya Ram Temple and demanding a fair investigation into the matter.
The Nagpur event marks the second phase of the campaign after its launch in Mumbai earlier this month.
Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray formally launched the 'Ram Raksha' campaign in Mumbai and criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that it had remained silent over the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Addressing party workers, Uddhav Thackeray said Lord Ram belonged to the entire country and should not be associated with any political party.
He also demanded an impartial investigation into the alleged financial irregularities involving temple donations.
According to Shiv Sena (UBT), reports of alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple surfaced in June. The issue has since become a political flashpoint, although the Uttar Pradesh government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations.
Invoking Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Uddhav recalled the slogan, "Garv Se Kaho Hum Hindu Hain", and accused the BJP of failing to address concerns raised over the alleged donation irregularities.
He also made "BJP-mukt Ram" the central theme of his address, asserting that Lord Ram belonged to the entire nation and not to any political party.
"Ram does not belong to any political party. Ram belongs to the entire nation."
"We will not keep quiet till an impartial inquiry is conducted in the donation theft. We will fight till the case is taken to a logical end."
Ahead of the Nagpur programme, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut wrote separate letters to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, inviting them to attend the 'Ram Raksha Andolan'.
In the letters, Raut alleged that the reported misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple had "deeply hurt the faith and trust of Hindus" and appealed to both leaders to participate in the campaign.
Raut requested Bhagwat to attend the event personally or depute a representative if he was unable to be present. Similar invitations were also extended to BJP leaders and elected representatives from the region.
According to Shiv Sena (UBT), the 'Ram Raksha Andolan' has been launched to demand transparency and accountability over the alleged misuse of donations made by devotees at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
The party has said it will continue organising the campaign across Maharashtra until an impartial investigation into the allegations is completed.
The Uttar Pradesh government has already constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the alleged financial irregularities. However, the issue continues to fuel political exchanges between the ruling BJP and the opposition, with the Nagpur programme expected to be one of the campaign's most significant events due to its political and ideological backdrop.
