A Ram temple is being constructed in Ayodhya with the consent of every Indian, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath said on Saturday, four days ahead of the foundation laying ceremony.
Mr. Nath’s colleague Digvijaya Singh said former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi also wanted the temple to come up.
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“I welcome the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. People of the country were expecting and wishing for this since long. The construction of the temple is being carried out with the consent of every Indian. It’s possible only in India,” Mr. Nath said in a video message.
Mr. Singh said Lord Ram is at the centre of everybody’s faith.
“The centre of our faith is Lord Ram!And today, the country is being run with trust in the Lord Ram. That’s why we all wish that a grand temple should be built at the birthplace of Ram in Ayodhya. (late PM) Rajiv Gandhiji also wanted the same,” he tweeted.
Mr. Singh, however, questionned “muhurt” (auspicious time) for the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of temple, slated to be held on August, 5 in the likely presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“If we talk about ‘muhurt’, then more than 90 per cent of Hindus in this country will be those who believe in religious science like ‘muhurt’, ‘grihdasha’, ‘astrology’, ’choghadiya’ etc. (sic),” he said.
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“I am neutral to the fact that there is no ‘muhurt’ for the foundation laying on August 5. This is playing with the religious sentiments and beliefs (sic),” the Congress leader said.
When asked about Mr. Singh’s tweets, MP Home Minister and senior BJP leader Narottam Mishra said, “Some people have a habit of criticising, and whenever they speak, they seek to find evil in the good. (Unknowingly) even in their criticism, they have at least taken the name of Lord Ram.”
Mr. Mishra said it was the Congress which had tried to delay the construction of the temple.
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“Kapil Sibal and other big leaders of Congress stood against the (construction) of Ram temple in court and kept saying in the supreme court that Lord Ram was an imaginary character.
“They said there was no ‘Ram Setu’ They should think now. Lord Ram is everywhere in this country,” Mr. Mishra said.
