Indian Prime Minister Modi has today inaugurated a grand temple of Hindu Lord Ram in the flashpoint city of Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Ayodhya Ram Temple
He said it marked the beginning of “a new era” for India the temple replaced a 16th-century mosque that was demolished by a Hindu mob in 1992, sparking riots that left nearly 2,000 people dead. They went.
Top film stars and cricketers were among the guests at the event held in Ayodhya today.
But some Hindu saint and most of the opposition boycotted it, saying Mr Modi was using it to score political points.
General elections are due in India in the next few months and Mr Modi’s political rivals say the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking votes in the name of the temple in a country where 80% of the population is Hindu.
Critics are also accusing the government of exploiting religious celebrations in a country that is – according to its constitution – secular. For Muslims, India’s largest minority, the event has evoked fear and painful memories, community members in Ayodhya told News 24 UK ahead of Monday’s ceremony.
Also telecast live on television, it showed Mr Modi performing religious rituals inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple today along with priests and Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh , the ideological fountainhead of Hindu nationalist parties.
Ayodhya Ram Temple
After the program, Shri Narendra Modi said, “Today’s date 22 January will be recorded in history.” “After years of struggle and countless sacrifices, Lord Ram has returned (home). I would like to congratulate every citizen of the country on this historic occasion.”
Ayodhya Ram Temple
Ayodhya Ram Temple: India’s PM Narendra Modi inaugurates Hindu temple at the Ayodhya
The temple was constructed at a cost of $217m (£170m), funded by private donations. Only the ground floor was opened – the rest are expected to be completed by the end of the year. The construction work is part of the city’s revitalization, which is estimated to cost more than $3 billion.
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