Ram temple issue figures in PM Modi’s I-Day address address | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Ram temple issue figures in PM Modi’s I-Day address address

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By, New Delhi
Aug 16, 2020 12:13 AM IST

On August 5, Modi laid the first brick of the Ram Mandir at a grand “bhoomi pujan” ceremony in Ayodhya, and said the day will stand as a symbol of the commitment of several generations that devoted their lives to the construction of the temple.

The construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya figured in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech on Saturday.

A proposed mosque coming up is on a five-acre site outside Ayodhya and is likely to be named after the village of Dhannipur where it is located. (DPR MOD / HT Photo)
A proposed mosque coming up is on a five-acre site outside Ayodhya and is likely to be named after the village of Dhannipur where it is located. (DPR MOD / HT Photo)

“Ten days ago, the construction of the temple has begun…A peaceful resolution to Ram Janmabhoomi issue is unprecedented. The peace and understanding that the people showed is not only unprecedented but will serve as an inspiration for us in the future,” Modi said from the ramparts of the Red Fort.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

On August 5, Modi laid the first brick of the Ram Mandir at a grand “bhoomi pujan” ceremony in Ayodhya, and said the day will stand as a symbol of the commitment of several generations that devoted their lives to the construction of the temple.

The beginning of the construction work comes after a 135-year-old legal dispute culminated when the Supreme Court, last November, awarded the disputed land to Hindu parties. It also comes in the wake of a three-decade-long mobilisation by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological affiliates, and the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 — an act declared illegal by the same SC verdict — that led to communal violence and deaths in various parts of the country.

Modi making a reference to the Ram temple issue, which formed the pivot of the BJP’s journey, was not a political statement, a senior BJP functionary said. “It was said in a way of recollecting the events of the year gone by. It was not a political statement but an account given to the people,” said the functionary, requesting anonymity.

Hari Desai, a Gujarat-based political commentator, said the mention of Ram temple in the PM’s speech was not out of place or inappropriate. He said, however, there should have also been a mention of the land given for the construction of a mosque near Ayodhya. “It would have just given confidence to the people of this country that the SC’s judgment has been respected,” he said.

A proposed mosque coming up is on a five-acre site outside Ayodhya and is likely to be named after the village of Dhannipur where it is located.

The Uttar Pradesh government handed the plot, currently occupied by rice fields 20km from Ayodhya town, to the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board earlier this month in accordance with the top court’s verdict that cleared the way for the construction of a Ram temple and also ordered the government to award five acres of land at an alternative site for the construction of a mosque.

CPI general secretary D Raja was critical of Modi’s speech. “He failed to address the issues of unemployment and poverty but mentioned Ayodhya, which exposed him completely,” he said.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Smriti covers an intersection of politics and governance. Having spent over a decade in journalism, she combines old fashioned leg work with modern story telling tools.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 29, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On