Ayodhya Ram Mandir: India PM Modi inaugurates Hindu temple on razed Babri mosque site
Cheering crowds of Hindu devotees filled the streets in the holy city of Ayodhya to watch the ceremonyIMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS
Despite the festive atmosphere surrounding the inauguration, the event has also reignited tensions between the Hindu and Muslim communities. The Babri mosque’s demolition in 1992 by Hindu mobs triggered riots, leading to nearly 2,000 casualties. The construction of the Ayodhya Ram temple has been a long-standing promise of Hindu nationalists and played a crucial role in propelling the BJP to political prominence in the 1990s.
The Ayodhya Ram temple project, costing $217 million and funded by private donations, is part of a broader city revamp estimated to exceed $3 billion. The current inauguration marks the opening of the ground floor, with the entire temple expected to be completed by the year’s end.
The Supreme Court’s decision in 2019 to grant the disputed land to Hindus after a prolonged legal battle has paved the way for the temple’s construction. However, it remains a contentious issue, with Muslims being allotted a plot outside the city for a mosque, which has yet to be built.
While the ceremony was televised live, showcasing Modi performing religious rituals, it has faced criticism for potentially exploiting a religious celebration in a country that, according to its constitution, is secular. The Muslim community in Ayodhya expressed fear and painful memories in the run-up to the ceremony.
As India grapples with the aftermath of the temple’s inauguration, questions persist about the impact on the nation’s secular fabric, the political motivations behind the event, and the enduring legacy of the Babri mosque’s demolition.
