Shiv Sena-UBT to launch Ram Temple funds protest in Mumbai's Dadar on Sunday
Synopsis
Shiv Sena (UBT) is turning the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation controversy into a street battle — announcing a Sunday protest in Dadar with Uddhav Thackeray at the helm, demanding the dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and FIRs against its members. It is a calculated move to reclaim Hindu identity politics from the BJP on the very ground the BJP built its national dominance.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena (UBT) will hold a protest at the Hanuman Temple, Dadar, Mumbai on Sunday at 4 pm over alleged fund misappropriation at the Ayodhya Ram Temple .
Uddhav Thackeray is expected to attend; MP Sanjay Raut made the announcement on Saturday.
Raut demanded the immediate dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and registration of an FIR against all trust members.
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale had urged restraint on Friday, a call Raut publicly rejected.
Raut alleged BJP-affiliated individuals control multiple temples including Mahakal and Kedarnath , and are misusing that position.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday, 5 July 2025, announced that the party will hold a formal agitation at the Hanuman Temple in Dadar, Mumbai on Sunday at 4 pm, demanding accountability over alleged misappropriation of funds and offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray is expected to be present, with the party claiming thousands of Ram devotees will join the protest.
What Raut Said
Addressing reporters, Raut said: 'Tomorrow at 4 p.m., we will announce our protest at the Hanuman Temple in Mumbai's Dadar against the alleged loot and theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Shiv Sena-UBT Chief Uddhav Thackeray will be present, and thousands of Ram devotees are expected to participate. We appeal to everyone who has faith in Lord Ram to join us.'
Raut further alleged that ornaments belonging to Lord Ram and Sita Mata, along with temple donations, had been stolen. He invoked the party's role during the 1992-93 Mumbai riots — which followed the Babri Masjid demolition — claiming that hundreds of Shiv Sainiks lost their lives protecting Hindus while, he alleged, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders 'were sitting at home.'
RSS General Secretary's Statement Rejected
RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale had on Friday urged the Hindu community to exercise restraint and not be misled by what the RSS described as anti-national forces attempting to use the Ram Temple donation controversy to defame the religion and society. Raut dismissed that appeal sharply, saying: 'He has asked to exercise restraint and maintain patience but had we kept patience, would the Ram Temple have been built? It required so many sacrifices. Such remarks don't suit him.'
Demand to Dissolve Temple Trust
Raut called for the immediate dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and demanded that an FIR be registered against all trust members, with arrests to follow. 'An FIR regarding the thefts should be lodged against the entire Temple Trust and everyone should be arrested,' he said.
He also broadened his critique to other religious sites, alleging that BJP-affiliated individuals had taken administrative control of temples including Mahakal and Kedarnath, and were 'engaging in loot in the name of God.' He argued this represented a contradiction at the heart of the ruling party's Hindutva politics.
Political Context
The protest announcement comes amid a widening controversy over alleged financial irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, which was consecrated in January 2024 in a high-profile ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The allegations have given the opposition — particularly parties with a historical claim to the Ram Temple movement — a politically charged opening to put the BJP on the defensive over the temple's administration. This is the first major street-level action by Shiv Sena (UBT) on the issue, and signals an attempt to reclaim the party's Hindu identity credentials while attacking the BJP's governance record.
Point of View
Thackeray's party is directly challenging the BJP's monopoly on Hindutva symbolism. The RSS's call for restraint, publicly dismissed by Raut, reveals a rare public rift between the Sangh and a party that has historically deferred to it on religious matters. Whether the protest translates into durable political capital depends on whether the underlying allegations of financial irregularity at the Trust gain traction with investigating agencies — something that remains unresolved.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shiv Sena (UBT) protest about?
Shiv Sena (UBT) is protesting against alleged misappropriation of funds and offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The party has demanded the dissolution of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the registration of FIRs against its members.
Where and when will the protest be held?
The protest will be held at the Hanuman Temple in Dadar, Mumbai, on Sunday at 4 pm. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray is expected to be present along with thousands of supporters.
What did Sanjay Raut say about the RSS's call for restraint?
Raut rejected RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale's appeal for restraint, saying patience alone would not have built the Ram Temple and that such remarks 'don't suit him.' He maintained that questioning those responsible for the alleged thefts is the party's 'duty and right.'
What action has Shiv Sena (UBT) demanded over the Ram Temple controversy?
The party has demanded the immediate dismissal of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the filing of an FIR against all trust members, followed by arrests. Raut also called for accountability over the alleged theft of ornaments and donations at the temple.
How does this fit into the broader political picture?
The protest is Shiv Sena (UBT)'s first major street-level action on the Ram Temple controversy and is widely seen as an attempt to challenge the BJP's Hindutva credentials. The Ayodhya Ram Temple was consecrated in January 2024 in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, making its administration a politically sensitive issue.
