New Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited citizens to participate in the idol installation ceremony at the newly constructed Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, scheduled for January 22, 2024. The temple has been a point of contention, as it stands on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Modi, who will inaugurate the event, made an appeal during the opening of Ayodhya Airport on December 30, 2023. He encouraged people to celebrate the inauguration “like Diwali Festival” by lighting candles and illuminating their homes across India.
The decision and the associated celebration have drawn criticism, particularly from leaders representing the Muslim community. Sitaram Yechury, leader of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, expressed disapproval of Modi’s move, emphasizing the insensitivity towards the sentiments of millions of Indian Muslims. The construction of the Ram Temple at the site of the Babri Masjid, demolished by Hindu extremists on December 6, 1992, remains a deeply divisive issue in India.
This development is likely to reignite debates and discussions on religious harmony and historical grievances within the country.