Fervour over the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, scheduled to start on August 5, is growing.
Construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya had been a key element of the BJP's ideology throughout its existence. But Madhya Pradesh Assembly Protem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma appears to have taken enthusiasm for the Ram temple to a whole new level.
Speaking to reporters in Gwalior on Wednesday, Sharma compared COVID-19 to a mythical demon that would be slain by Lord Ram. "He [Lord Ram] had reincarnated for the welfare of mankind and to kill demons at that time. As soon as the construction of Ram temple begins, the destruction of the COVID pandemic will begin too,” Sharma was quoted as saying by ANI.
"Not only India, but entire world is suffering due to coronavirus. We are not only maintaining social distancing but also remembering our holy figures. The Supreme Court has ordered that Ram temple be built," Sharma was quoted by ANI as saying.
The foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram temple on August 5 has already attracted some criticism given the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had recently claimed, "We are all thinking of how to fight the battle against coronavirus, but some people think that coronavirus will be mitigated by building a temple..."
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy had slammed Pawar for his comments, saying India could fight both COVID-19 and build a Ram temple. Swamy told Republic TV, “We can fight COVID-19 as well as inaugurate Ram Temple both. I don't understand [what] Mr Pawar is saying. Has he started losing his mental faculties or what in the company of the Congress? How can he possibly in this country like this compare fighting COVID-19 with the project of building a Ram Temple after all the struggle of 500 years. I think he should apologise to the people of India."
