Historic day for India, says Uddhav on Ayodhya verdict

Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict on the Ayodhya dispute, Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray said "this is a historic day and a golden moment for India".

"An age-old controversy has ended... After years, justice has been finally delivered. All have accepted the judgement and we must all welcome it. I bow before the judiciary," he said.

"Last year on November 24 (2018), I had gone to Ayodhya and performed an 'aarti' there. Before that, I had gone to Shivneri - the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - and carried some soil from there to Ayodhya. I felt that soil to be magical and was confident a miracle would occuraIt has happened in less than a year," Thackeray recalled.

Post-verdict, he announced plans to go back to Shivneri in Pune district and offer prayers, and return to Ayodhya on November 24 for thanksgiving after the apex court judgement.

"Today, we remember the late Balasaheb Thackeray. I will also go and meet (BJP leader) L. K. Advani. He played a very big role in the Ram temple movement. I am sure he must be very happy over the today's judgement," Thackeray said.

Despite questioning by the media, the Sena chief decline to answer any political questions pertaining to the deadlock with the Bharatiya Janata Party over the government formation imbroglio in the state.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis quit his post on Friday and all eyes are now on Governor B. S. Koshyari as the tenure of the current assembly expires at midnight Saturday.

( With inputs from IANS )