Nagpur: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut visited Ramnagar’s Shri Ram Mandir here on Tuesday and confirmed it will be the venue for the party’s July 18 Ram Raksha Andolan, adding it was a ‘religious’ event, not a political one. The temple’s trust also gave the nod to UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray to recite Ram Raksha on their premises, saying all devotees are welcome as long as the visit stays apolitical.Raut’s visit to the temple and meeting with its trustees ended suspense over the venue as both sides reached an agreement over the ‘nature’ of the Saturday event.After leaving the temple premises, Raut told reporters he was mesmerized by the place. “As soon as I came here, I fell in love with this temple. I felt a positive energy the moment I entered.” He said the search for a suitable venue in Nagpur ended at this temple. “This is the most energetic Ram temple, and we feel our programme will be held right here, under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray ji,” he added.The Rajya Sabha MP said he met temple trustee Ravi Waghmare during the visit, who assured cooperation. Speaking to TOI, temple trust president Waghmare said, “We are expecting a crowd of 10,000 from Vidarbha. Our capacity is 200 inside and maximum 250 alongside the road.” He added, “On Wednesday, UBT will submit a letter to us, with details about their event. We never refuse any devotee who comes to seek divine blessings, and we never objected to Uddhav ji coming here. All we said was that no protest, political statements can be made here.“With a capacity of less than 500, and target attendance of 10,000 the gap is too wide to be ignored. In the temple’s vicinity is a ground which can accommodate around 5,000 people but getting access to it won’t be an easy task for UBT. A source told TOI, “That ground has been booked by a BJP leader for an event scheduled next week. But ground preparations have started so UBT will have to approach them for access. But whether this BJP neta, a staunch supporter of CM Devendra Fadnavis, will allow it is a big question mark.“UBT will have to secure permission from civic administration and cops, apart from trimming down their target audience.Kishor Kumeriya, a senior member of UBT said “Raut saheb is going to stay put in Vidarbha till July 18. We will be applying for permissions and hoping that Uddhav ji will address party workers as well at a separate venue.”
