Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday led the consecration ceremony of the much-awaited Ram Mandir and performed Pran Pratistha of Ram Lalla in accordance with the Supreme Court’s
2019 Ram Mandir verdict. However, the opposition deliberately missed the inauguration as it was tough for them to see former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s promise being fulfilled which he made three decades ago.
Back then, the opposition led by Congress which was trying to corner the BJP led government for not able to fulfil the three ideological promises – revocation of Article 370, making of Ram Mandir and introduction of Uniform Civil Code. At that time the opposition even criticized that these promises were not mentioned in the then presidential address to Parliament.
The recently concluded consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is a significant and historic move that marked the long-standing legal and social debate in India. The making of the Ram Mandir at Ram Janmabhoomi is not merely legally justified but is also in line with the required religious freedom and communal harmony. However, with media highlighting the event with varied angles it is important to dispel any false propaganda like of the CNN promoting Muslims in grief.
Over decades Ayodhya has been in dispute with competing claims from both the Hindu and Muslim sides over a site which is now the Ram Janmabhoomi and where once Babri Masjid stood. In November 2019, the Supreme Court following deep examination all the arguments and historical evidence pronounced its final verdict favouring the construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site.
The top court’s decision favouring Hindus’ claims was not biased rather a result of thorough review of historical and archaeological findings. It was found that a Hindu temple existed under the Babri Masjid and the demolition of the mosque in 1992 was not legal.
The newly built Ram Mandir does not highlight any victory for a community over another rather it symbolizes the historical and cultural importance of Ayodhya for Hindus. India which is known for its religious freedom, and any such construction merely deals with preserving the cultural heritage of all communities not of hurting anybody’s sentiments.
Meanwhile, media outlets like CNN promoting false propaganda with stories based on grief and anxiety among the Muslim community tends to sensationalize and misrepresent the sentiments of the community and it needs to be stopped. It is crucial to take in account that the inauguration of grand temple does not aim to question the existence and rights of Muslims. India’s constitution assures every citizen his or her religious freedom irrespective of any faith.
Ram Mandir’s inauguration aims to promote communal harmony and understanding among all. With many being unhappy but many leaders have joined their hands in the making of the grand temple irrespective of their religion and have also emphasized its significance. So, it is equally important for the media outlets to respect and show instances of unity among diversity.
