Amid row over Ram temple, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray visits Ayodhya

After reaching Ayodhya, Thackeray offered prayers at the Lakshman Kila in Uttar Pradesh.

Thackeray will be present at a number of events on Sunday. The Sena chief will also participate in one of the events of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP).

On Oct 29, the top court said the hearing dates will be announced by a suitable bench excluding CJI Gogoi in January. It will hear pleas challenging Allahabad High Court's verdict which divided 2.77-acre disputed Ayodhya land among Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board and Nirmohi Akhara.

The apex court will decide whether Ram temple can be built in the same disputed land, where Babri Masjid was held till 1992.

In December 1992, the Babri Masjid structure was brought down by several right-wing volunteers who believe Lord Ram was born at that land.

Meanwhile, Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday stirred a fresh controversy by implying the construction of Ram temple at the same disputed land won't take much time through an ordinance as the Babri Masjid was brought down in just 17 minutes by the Ram bhakts (devotees).

While India cruised into the election season with state polls in the run up to the general elections next year, the Congress party leaders also recently made several statements on the Ram Temple issue in what is seen as a bid to take the wind out of the sail of the ruling BJP at the centre and in Uttar Pradesh.

Congress leader CP Joshi went to the extent of saying that only a Congress Prime Minister can build a Ram temple in Ayodhya since "it was Rajiv Gandhi who opened the lock of the Babri Masjid premise and allowed religious rites inside the disputed structure."

Though he was reprimanded by party president Rahul Gandhi, leaders like Raj Babbar said on Thursday that Congress was never opposed to the Ram temple construction and Muslims have no opposition to it.