Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, 28 years after the demolition of Babri Masjid at the same spot. The wait of centuries has ended and India is creating a golden chapter in Ayodhya, he said in a speech following the ground-breaking ceremony.
Mr. Modi was accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, among others. The Prime Minister also unveiled a plaque and released a commemorative postal stamp to mark the occassion.
Here are the updates:
2.30 pm
Delhi CM congratulates country on occasion of Ram Temple ‘bhoomi poojan’
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday congratulated the entire country on the occasion of the ‘bhoomi poojan’ of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
“Congratulations to the entire country on the occasion of bhoomi poojan. May we continue to receive Lord Ram’s blessings. With his blessings, our country will get rid of hunger, illiteracy and poverty, and India becomes the most powerful nation in the world. May India show the path to the world in times to come. Jai Shri Ram! Jai Bajrang Bali,” Mr. Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi.
2.20 pm
Lord Ram ultimate embodiment of supreme human values: Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Lord Ram is the ultimate embodiment of supreme human values and can never appear in cruelty, hatred or injustice.
In a tweet in Hindi, the former Congress president said, “Maryada Purshottam Lord Ram is the ultimate embodiment of supreme human values. He is the core of humanism embedded deep in our hearts“.
“Ram is love, he can never appear in hatred. Ram is compassion, he can never appear in cruelty. Ram is justice, he can never appear in injustice,” he said. – PTI
2.10 pm
We have to respect the sentiments of everyone, says PM Modi
Ram temple will be the harbinger of a prosperous India, said PM Narendra Modi.
“Our scriptures says there has been no ruler like Lord Ram. Lord Ram’s policy was that motherland is bigger than heaven. It is also Lord Ram’s policy that as a nation gets powerful, it also becomes better at living peacefully. We have to ensure that fraternity and friendship cements the bricks of this temple. We have to respect the sentiments of everyone,” he said, adding that the temple will continue to inspire generations to come.
PM Modi winded up his speech by talking about the importance of social distancing and using masks to control the coronavirus pandemic. – Sandeep Phukan
2 pm
Ram is in India’s faith, Ram is in India’s ideal: PM Modi
Continuing his speech after the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ram temple, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that just as every section of the society, including Dalits and tribals, extended support to Gandhi ji during the freedom struggle, today every section has supported the Ram temple.
“India’s faith, the collective of the people and the strength of this collective, has been a subject of research by many across the world,” he said.
PM Modi speaks at the Ayodhya Ram temple ground-breaking ceremony.
“Ram is the thread of India’s unity in diversity,” PM Modi said, commenting on the different traditions and names of Ram and Ramayan in different languages like Tamil, Telugu, Odiya, Bengali, Kashmiri, Malayalam etc.
“Indonesia, which has the maximum Muslim population in the world, has unique Ramayan. Lord Ram is still worshipped there,” he said, mentioning the different traditions of Ramayan in Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. He added that references to Ramayan can be found in Iran and China, and that Srilanka has it’s own Ramayan while Nepal’s tradition is attached to Mother Janaki.
Ram belongs to everyone and Ram is in everyone, said PM Modi. – Sandeep Phukan
1.50 pm
August 5 as important to India as August 15: PM Modi
Just as August 15 symbolises the end of our struggle for freedom, today symbolises the culmination of the fight for a Ram Mandir for centuries, said PM Modi, continuing his speech at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
On behalf of 130 crore people, I bow my head and pay respect to all those who were associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, he said. “Whenever we have to do something, we have looked towards Ram ji. Efforts were made to destroy Lord Ram’s identity, but he still reigns in our hearts,” he said, adding that the temple will be a symbol of national sentiment and collective faith.
After the temple is constructed, Ayodhya will not gain importance but the entire economy will be transformed as people from all over the world will come here, said PM Modi.
“This is an opportunity to connect people with faith, connect present with the past. It is a gift to justice-loving India,” he said, adding that the event has displayed the same dignity that was shown the day the Supreme Court order regarding the temple came out. – Sandeep Phukan
1.40 pm
For years, Ram Lalla was in a tent; he will now get a grand temple: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his speech with a chant hailing Lord Ram and “Jai Siya Ram”.
“Today this celebration and victory call is not restricted to Ayodhya but all over the world. Congratulations to Ram devotes across the world,” he said.
“It is my fortune that Shri Ram janma Bhoomi Teertha Trust invited me and allowed me to part of this event. I express my heartfelt tribute,” he said, adding that it was natural for him to come.
“India Today is creating a golden chapter. Today, the entire country is immersed in Ram. Today, the entire nation is emotional as the wait that went on for centuries ended. Crores of people may not believe that they are witnessing this event. For years, Ram Lalla who has been under a tent will see a grand temple,” he added.
The tradition of breaking down and rising up again will end today, he said. – Sandeep Phukan
1.35 pm
Before he begins addressing those gathered, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
He also released a commemorative postage stamp on the ‘Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir’.
1.30 pm
Start temple construction immediately: Mahant Nrityagopal Das to PM, CM
The construction of the Ram temple is equivalent to the construction of India, said Mahant Nrityagopal Das, head of the Trust in charge of building the R