‘Their souls must have found peace’: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat recalls lives dedicated to Ram Temple movement

Remembering Ashok Singhal, the symbol of the Ayodhya movement — he launched the Ram Janki Rath Yatra in 1985 and demanded the opening of the locks at Ram Janmabhoomi — Bhagwat said, “Aaj vastav mein Ashok ji ko aaj wahan shanti mili hogi (Today Ashok ji must have truly found peace).”

He also remembered “Mahant Ramchandra Das ji Maharaj, Dalmia ji” and other saints, who devoted their lives for the movement. “Jaisa sapna dekha tha un logon ne, bilkul waisa, usse bhi adhik bhavya yeh mandir ban gaya hai (The temple has been built exactly as they had dreamed, and even more grandiose than imagined),” he said.

While it might have taken years for the completion of the Ram Temple, Bhagwat asserted, “The Hindu community fulfilled its dreams, and the Ram Lalla temple was built.”

“Today, the process of temple construction is complete and the flag has been hoisted. It is a historic and deeply fulfilling moment, a day of fulfilment and reaffirmation of the resolve passed down by our ancestors,” he further said.

Referring to the flag, he called it a symbol of Dharma and said the flag of “Ram Rajya”, which once flew in Ayodhya, spreading peace and joy across the world, has risen again.

Maintaining that the Hindu society has demonstrated resilience over 500 years of struggle, Bhagwat said now the efforts should be to turn India into a nation that gives to the entire world. The completion of the Ram Temple, he added, is the start of this process of spreading Dharma and knowledge across the world.

“We must create an India that contributes to the entire world, and the Ram Mandir has fulfilled that journey today,” said the RSS chief.

He further said, “Aaj kritarthata ka diwas, sankalpa ki purna sidhi ka diwas hai (Today is the day of fulfilment and achieving completion of the pledge).”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, referring to the temple as a symbol of “faith, respect and pride of 140 crore people of the country”, expressed gratitude to all those who contributed to its construction. “This auspicious day is dedicated to the revered saints, warriors, and devotees of Shri Ram, who devoted their lives to this noble movement,” he said.

Adityanath said that “Dhwajarohan” is a call for the truth, and that “the light of dharma is eternal, and the values of Ram Rajya are timeless”.

He said that when PM Modi took over the leadership in 2014, it had instilled confidence among citizens of the country.

He also called the saffron flag a symbol of the pledge for ‘Viksit Bharat’: “The Kesariya Dhwaja fluttering atop the Ram Mandir is a symbol of dharma, honour, truth, justice, and national duty; it also represents the pledge for a Viksit Bharat.”