Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday performed the shila pujan of the garba griha (sanctum sanctorum) of the under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya. Addressing a gathering of Hindu saints, priests and devotees on the occasion, Adityanath said the Ram temple will be “rashtra mandir” or the national temple of “New India” which will bind the nation in one thread under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' campaign. Buy Now | Our best subscription plan now has a special price “The 500-year-long struggle appears to be materialising and taking a concrete shape. What else could be the moment of pride for every Indian. The invaders had tried to destroy the dream of India and attacked our faith with malicious intent. But in the end, India emerged victorious. The victory has been achieved through the path of dharma, truth and justice,” Adityanath said, adding the mantras of “satyameva jayate” and “dharmo rakshati rakshitah" have proved their importance. #WATCH | Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath pours cement on the stones during the foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram Mandir's Garbhagriha in Ayodhya. pic.twitter.com/XfONb0sYCs — ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 1, 2022 “The struggle of saints and efforts of great men like (late VHP leader) Ashok Singhal, lakhs of workers associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and “vichar parivar” (ideological family), is taking shape. Devotees coming to Ayodhya is feeling overwhelmed and blessed by seeing the grand Ram temple being built,” the CM said, adding the construction work will gain further pace. Last month, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, constituted to oversee the construction and the management of the Ram temple, said that the temple will be opened to the public by early 2024 – months ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Modi had laid the foundation stone of the Ram temple in August 2020. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was also present at the event, said the first phase of the Ram temple construction has been completed and the second phase has begun.
