Shiv Sena (UBT) holds 'Ram Raksha' protest in Mumbai over Ayodhya temple funds row
Synopsis
Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) chose a Hindu-religious framing — the Ram Raksha Stotra at Dadar's Hanuman Temple — to launch a statewide campaign against alleged financial irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Coming amid defections and internal setbacks, the protest is as much a political recalibration as it is a demand for temple fund accountability.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray led a 'Ram Raksha' protest at Dadar Kabutarkhana , Mumbai , on 6 July .
The agitation demands transparency over alleged misappropriation of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple .
Thackeray accused the BJP of failing to ensure accountability for devotee offerings, alleging the funds were 'robbed'.
MP Sanjay Raut also attacked the RSS , questioning who was responsible for the alleged irregularities.
The protest is the launchpad for a broader statewide agitation; subsequent phases are yet to be announced.
The party has recently seen six MPs defect to the Eknath Shinde faction and lost senior leader Sachin Ahir .
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, 6 July led a 'Ram Raksha' protest near the Hanuman Temple at Dadar Kabutarkhana in Mumbai, demanding accountability over alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The demonstration, framed as a statewide agitation, drew party leaders and Shiv Sainiks who recited the Ram Raksha Stotra, Hanuman Stotra, and Hanuman Chalisa at the venue.
What the Protest Is About
Thackeray, addressing a press conference at his residence ahead of the protest, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of failing to ensure transparency over funds donated by devotees at the Ayodhya temple. He alleged that money offered by pilgrims had been 'robbed' and called for a full public accounting of temple finances.
'I invite every Hindu who cannot tolerate this theft in the house of Lord Ram. This is for everyone who hasn't abandoned Hindutva or the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray. We will gather to recite the Ram Raksha Stotra, Hanuman Stotra, and Hanuman Chalisa,' Thackeray said, extending an open invitation across political lines.
What Party Leaders Said
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut had on Saturday appealed to Ram devotees to turn out in large numbers. 'Tomorrow at 4 pm, 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 said.
Raut also trained his attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying, 'At that time, BJP and RSS leaders were sitting at home, while we were on the streets. This is our duty and right to ask questions from them about who is behind these thefts?'
The Political Context
The protest comes at a turbulent moment for Shiv Sena (UBT). The party has faced a string of setbacks, including the defection of six Members of Parliament to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the recent departure of senior leader and close Thackeray aide Sachin Ahir. Notably, this is the party's most visible public mobilisation in recent months, and the choice of a Hindu-religious framing signals a deliberate effort to reclaim ideological ground from the ruling alliance.
What Comes Next
The Dadar event is positioned as the launchpad for a broader statewide agitation. The party has not yet announced a schedule for subsequent phases, but the scale of Sunday's turnout is expected to shape how aggressively Shiv Sena (UBT) pursues the campaign. The BJP and temple trust authorities had not issued a formal response to the allegations at the time of reporting.
Point of View
Thackeray is contesting the BJP on terrain the BJP considers its own — Hindu religious identity. The allegations of temple fund mismanagement are serious and deserve independent scrutiny, but the timing and optics also serve an internal purpose: to remind the Shiv Sena (UBT) base that Thackeray, not Shinde, is the authentic custodian of Balasaheb's Hindutva legacy. Whether the street energy translates into electoral capital depends on whether the party can sustain the campaign beyond a single high-profile rally.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Shiv Sena (UBT) 'Ram Raksha' protest about?
The protest demands accountability over alleged misappropriation of donations and offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Uddhav Thackeray and the party accuse the BJP of failing to ensure transparency in the management of temple funds.
Where and when did the protest take place?
The protest was held on Sunday, 6 July, near the Hanuman Temple at Dadar Kabutarkhana in Mumbai. It was led personally by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
What did Sanjay Raut say about the protest?
MP Sanjay Raut appealed to Ram devotees to join the demonstration and accused both BJP and RSS leaders of inaction, saying it was the party's 'duty and right' to question who was behind the alleged thefts at the Ayodhya temple.
Why is this protest significant for Shiv Sena (UBT)?
The party has faced significant setbacks recently, including the defection of six MPs to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the exit of senior leader Sachin Ahir. The protest represents the party's most prominent public mobilisation in recent months and a bid to reclaim Hindu ideological ground.
Has the BJP or the Ram Temple trust responded to the allegations?
At the time of reporting, neither the BJP nor the Ayodhya Ram Temple trust had issued a formal public response to the allegations of fund misappropriation raised by Shiv Sena (UBT).
