"Opposing Lord Ram is opposing India": Assam Minister criticizes Congress for declining 'Pran Pratishtha' invite

By Hemanta Kumar Nath
Guwahati (Assam) [India], January 13 : Assam's Housing & Urban Affairs and Irrigation Minister Ashok Singhal on Saturday criticized the Congress party after its leaders declined to attend the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Singhal expressed his disapproval, stating that the Congress has lost its sense, and opposing Lord Ram is tantamount to opposing India, Bharat, Bhartiya culture, tradition, and spirituality.
"Nobody can survive in the country by opposing Lord Ram. People have seen the results. They still have not realized that the place of Prabhu Ram is in the hearts of the Indian people. The day they realize, they will realize that they are mistaken. Still, there is time; they should realize their mistake and should participate in the event," Ashok Singhal said while speaking to ANI.
In a critical remark directed at the Congress, he said that they oppose every good thing in the country and link that to BJP.
"They (Congress) boycotted the inauguration of the new parliament, G20, and they will boycott anything which the country should be proud of. They will oppose everything, and they feel that opposing that means opposing BJP. But they don't understand that, opposing Ram, inauguration of the new parliament, G20; they are opposing the ethos of India, the idea of India," Singhal said.
"Nobody should oppose the Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram Vigraha in Ram Mandir Janmasthan. It is a matter of pride. Lord Ram doesn't belong to one; Lord Ram is for everybody. Every Indian worship Lord Ram: somebody takes him as a God, someone takes him as an Adarshapurush, as a Maryada Purushottam. Those who are opposing don't understand Bharat. Those who are opposing Lord Ram and Ram Temple, they don't understand Indian culture, philosophy, spirituality; that's why they are opposing it. They don't have the roots on the ground. Any sensible person will not oppose it," he said.
Talking about the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, the Assam Minister said that it is a matter of a proud moment for every Indian that the Bhavya Mandir of Lord Ram is ready for inauguration.
"Everybody should participate in it, and those who are not able to go to Ayodhya should participate in the community, temples, or in devalayas. This is the turning point of Indian history; after the struggle of 500 years, finally, as the result in a glorious temple," the minister said.
Recalling his participation in the 1990 Kar Seva, Singhal said, "A lot of people participated in the Kar Seva, and he also participated in the 1990 Kar Seva when the Mulayam Singh Yadav government was there, and they killed 100 Kar Sevaks, and he was there when that incident happened. It is a proud moment for him, his family, and the entire country. Lots of programs are going on. With his mother and family, he would definitely like to go to Ayodhya in the month of February."
The Assam Minister asserted that, ahead of the Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha, the Assam government will also conduct Swachh Tirtha Abhiyan - a sweeping cleanliness initiative to enhance the sanctity of pilgrimage sites across the state.
"Swachh Tirtha Abhiyan or Mahotsav will start in Assam from January 16 because of the celebration of Magh Bihu in the state. This will go on from January 16 to January 21. In the urban areas, lots of initiatives have been taken to make this campaign successful Abhiyan with Jan Bhagidari. We will clean our temples, devasthan," he added.