Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday said that "Ram, rashtra (nation) and roti (food)" are complementary to each other and asserted that the Lord Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will symbolise and strengthen "national unity".
He spoke to PTI in an interview a day before the bhoomi pujan for the Ram Mandir.
"I am of the view that Ram, rashtra and roti are complementary to each other. The temple, which is going to be built at Ram Janmabhoomi, marks the culmination of a nearly 500-year-old battle in which a countless number of Ram bhakts attained martyrdom," Maurya said.
The Ram Mandir movement in the past had assumed such a shape that virtually the entire country was linked to it, he said, adding that when someone sees the issue through the Hindu-Muslim prism, he tells them that it should not be seen from this point of view.
"After fighting the British, we got Independence on August 15, 1947. In the same way, I feel that November 9, 2019, is equally important as it is when the Supreme Court, through its judgment, paved the way for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. But, now August 5 has become even more important, because from this day, the work of building a grand temple for Lord Ram will commence," Maurya said.
Asked whether he considers the Ram Mandir movement at par with the freedom struggle, he parried a direct reply and said, "A grand temple for Ram Lalla is going to be built, and it will be a strong temple for the country, which will symbolise national unity. This will strengthen national unity, and divisive forces will be isolated."
On opposition parties attacking the BJP on going ahead with the bhoomi pujan on August 5, Maurya said, "There are a number of leaders who are giving unsolicited advice. These people are pained and peeved over the process of construction of Ram temple. These were the people who mocked us by coining slogans like 'Ramlalla hum aayenge, Mandir wohi banaayenge, taareekh nahi bataayenge' (Lord Ram, we will come and build the temple, but not tell the date of its construction). These were the people who had also questioned the existence of Ram Setu," he said.
He also said that things are moving as per the wish of Lord Ram, and no one should try to create any roadblock nor try to give any advice.
Maurya's statement assumes importance in the backdrop of CPI MP Binoy Viswam's letter to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, opposing the telecast of the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the temple on Doordarshan as it would be "contrary to the accepted norms of national integrity".
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray too had said the ceremony can be conducted through videoconference in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"An e-bhoomi pujan can be done. The ground-breaking ceremony can be held through videoconference. This is an event of joy, and lakhs of people would be interested in attending the ceremony. Will we allow the spread of coronavirus?" Thackeray had said.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar had said some people think building a temple will help eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Eradication of COVID-19 is the priority of the Maharashtra government, but some people think constructing a temple will help in its mitigation," Pawar had told reporters.
