- The Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid conundrum in the disputed site in Ayodhya finally came to rest with the Supreme Court allowing the construction of the much-awaited temple much to the delight of the millions of ardent followers. No sooner than the decades-long case was concluded by the Supreme Court, the stakeholders involved with the movement lost no time in forming a trust with the mandate to construct the temple in record times. The construction of the temple for Lord Ram started in earnest gaining traction as the stakeholders went about ensuring the homecoming of the much-loved deity well in time. Remember, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has always been at the forefront of demanding Ram Mandir when the issue was at a nascent stage decades back.
PC: India.com
- Recollect, the BJP came to national political prominence riding on the demand for constructing Ram Mandir leading to the now familiar narrative of secular versus communal taking deep roots in the country’s psyche. Of course, as if on cue, several prominent regional political parties sprouted in the country largely at the cost of the Grand Old Party which had to concede grounds as also losing immense traction along the way. As you are aware, the political narrative has polarized to such an extent that everything is viewed under the prism of communal versus secular credentials. Note that one of the poll promises of the BJP was to construct the Ram Mandir at the disputed site. This promise will come to fruition in the next few days.
- The ruling dispensation at the Centre will not leave any stone unturned to make the scheduled consecration ceremony a spectacular and never-seen-before grandest of grandest events. Mind you, the parliamentary elections are scheduled in April/May and as such, the BJP would go all out to woo the majority community much to the discomfiture of the opposition ranks. No wonder, the opposition will feel the pious and religious event is turning out to be political. Note that the consecration ceremony scheduled for 22nd January will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. He has stepped up the efforts to remind citizens of the ensuing event at every given opportunity exhorting us to celebrate the Deepavali on the big day and light lamps in our homes.
PC: The Statesman
- The celebrations will not stop after the consecration ceremony but will continue till the general elections are concluded. The opposition may say that the BJP is politicizing the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony, but the saffron brigade is quite gung-ho, and rightfully so, to go all out to woo the majority community by planning the event in the grandest possible manner. Why it should not and who does not wish to milk the occasion? The BJP has walked the talk by doggedly pursuing the Ram Mandir issue for decades. The moot point to ponder over here is whether the consecration ceremony will yield the BJP the desired political dividends. It’s not rocket science to imagine a definite advantage will accrue to the BJP in the ensuing general elections.
