Cabinet hails Modi: Country’s body got freedom in 1947, soul on Jan 22, 2024

“The love you have received from the people has established you as a Jan Nayak. But, after the ushering in of the new era, you have also emerged as the pioneer of the new era,” it stated.

Later, while briefing reporters on the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said, “At the beginning of the Union Cabinet meeting, on behalf of the Cabinet, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister for the successful Pran Pratishtha ceremony.”

The resolution stated that while several historic works have been done since the Cabinet system came into being in India, and during the British-era period of the Executive Council of the Viceroy, such an occasion never occurred and the work accomplished by Prime Minister Modi on January 22, 2024 is unparalleled in history.

“As a mass movement, there was unity among the people even during the Emergency, but that unity was against dictatorship, as a movement of resistance. But the mass movement for Lord Ram that we are witnessing signals the heralding of a new era,” it said.

“The Ram Janmabhoomi movement was the only movement in independent India that brought everyone together. Crores of Indians were emotionally attached to this movement and waited for this moment,” it stated.

Hailing his 11-day anushthan for the consecration ceremony and the trips he had undertaken to visit pilgrim sites associated with Lord Ram, the Cabinet said this had “provided energy to national unity” and “we felicitate you for this not just as members of the Cabinet but also in our capacity as normal citizens”.

“The people of this country have waited for this moment for centuries, and now a new era has been heralded with the construction of the grand Ram temple,” it stated.

“Today, it has become a narrative-setting people’s movement. This kind of anushthan can only be done at the hands of someone blessed by God,” it stated.

The resolution recalled Modi’s remarks at the consecration ceremony where he said “thousands of years later, people will remember this date (January 22, 2024)… It’s a blessing that all of us are living this moment and witnessing it” and said “it won’t be an exaggeration to call today’s Cabinet as the Cabinet of the Millenium.

Meanwhile, amid the heavy rush of devotees in Ayodhya for a darshan of the idol at the new Ram temple, Modi is learnt to have advised his ministers to defer their visits to the temple. Sources said Modi expressed concern over the inconvenience caused to the public by VIP visits to the temple.

Responding to a question on whether the entire Cabinet will visit the Ram temple, Thakur said that as of now, no member is going there. “There is no proposal by the Cabinet that the Cabinet ministers will go there,” he said.

On a personal note, Thakur said, he would suggest that people visit Ayodhya keeping in mind the decisions taken and advisories issued by the Uttar Pradesh government due to the high footfall.