Shiv Sena and BJP activists create a ruckus at the Ram Mandir station event

All is definitely not well amongst the alliance partners in the state i.e. the BJP and the Shiv Sena. Yesterday marked the inauguration of the newly constructed suburban railway station, Ram Mandir which is in between Jogeshwari and Goregaon railway stations.

 

The inauguration was done by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and was marred by intense sloganeering by the activists of Hindutva parivar, including Shiv Sena and BJP, over taking credit for its materialisation, in view of upcoming BMC polls.

 

In his brief address, marred by intense sloganeering, Prabhu said more projects are in the pipeline for passengers. “This project was being carried out since long and I am happy to hand it over to you all. I congratulate citizen for availing the services of this station. There are other several projects of passenger amenities which are being carried out by Railways and sufficient provisions including the investments have been made by the Railways to speed them up,” Prabhu said. When the programme was underway, slogans like “Modi versus Shiv Sena” and “Jai Shri Ram” rented the air, forcing the authorities to wrap up the inauguration event. Hundreds of people, including activists of political parties, reached the venue, which resulted into disruption of the arrangement made by the Railway authorities.

 

Niranjan Pal, president of a lesser-known right wing outfit Veer Sena, said, “All these people are here to take the credit only. But the truth is that we worked hard to persuade the railway authorities and state machinery to finish it in time.”

 

Veer Sena members greeted the passengers with Jai Shri Ram slogans when first train took halt at the station. BJP MLA and MoS for Women and Child Development, Vidya Thakur said, “this station is the result of restless follow-up with the state and union governments and credit goes to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, CM Devendra Fadnavis and to local people. I am extremely happy that the station is named as Ram Mandir.”