Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) working president Alok Kumar on Monday slammed Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for suggesting e-bhumi pujan of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Alok Kumar said it is a fall of what once was a Hindutva party led by the legendary Balasaheb Thackeray.
Underlining that "bhumi pujan" is an essential and sacred ritual, Kumar said before starting any construction work, Hindus worship the Mother Earth and seek her permission to dig, and this cannot be done virtually.
Expressing concern over the Maharashtra chief minister's statement, Kumar said,"It only shows his blind opposition and we do mourn such a fall of what once was a Hindutva party led by the legendary Shri Balasaheb Thackeray."
The VHP and the organisers of the event have said that only 200 people will be participating and it will be held in compliance with all health and security advisories, he added.
In this situation, the concerns about public health expressed by Uddhav Thackeray are only "false pretences", Kumar said.
He also mentioned that the Supreme Court had permitted the symbolic taking out of the Jagannath Rath Yatra.