Days to go for Ayodhya Ram temple opening, PM Modi starts ‘special ritual’: ‘Lord has made me an instrument…’

Earlier, while addressing a rally in Ayodhya, PM Modi had appealed to the people of the country to celebrate Diwali in their houses on January 22 when the Ram Temple would be consecrated, adding that they should visit Ayodhya as per their convenience starting January 23.

PM Modi’s message seemed to be Hindutva-plus. As world-class infrastructure is built in Ayodhya, the temple town would see a convergence of tradition and modern vikas (development), which from the ruling BJP’s viewpoint is a must for a country’s “national greatness”.

The Prime Minister had also said the whole world was waiting for the “historic” Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22, but appealed to people to not come to the city for the event, as only a few selected people have been invited to witness the ceremony.

“If any country wants to develop, it has to protect its heritage. We are moving forward with the old and the new. Once, Ram Lalla was in a tent in Ayodhya. Today, pucca houses are there not only for Ram Lalla but 4 crore people… Today is Pragati ka utsav for Ayodhya; a few days later there will be parampara ka utsav here (today is a festival of development for Ayodhya; some days later there will be a festival of tradition here,” Modi said.

Highlighting that Ayodhya would give direction to the development of the whole of UP and not just Awadh region, the PM added: “We are undertaking thousands of crores of development; it is being made smart. Roads are being widened, flyovers are coming up. New means of transportation are coming to Ayodhya.”

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