Ram Mandir Ayodhya: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple’s chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das on Sunday reacted to Uddhav Thackeray’s remarks that he was not invited to the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and said that invitations have only been extended to those who are “devotees of Lord Ram”. Ram Mandir will be inaugurated on January 22 and invitations have been put out to leaders from various parties, to which Thackeray had claimed that he had not received any invitation for the historic event.
“Invitations are only extended to those who are devotees of Lord Ram. It is totally wrong to say that BJP is fighting in the name of Lord Ram, our PM is respected everywhere. He has done immense work under his tenure. This is not politics. This is his devotion,” Acharya Satyendra Das said.
Acharya slams Sanjay Raut
The priest also condemned Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut’s remark that “BJP is left now to announce Lord Ram as their candidate” and said that he insulted Lord Ram.
"Sanjay Raut has so much pain that even he can't express that, they were the ones who used to fight elections in the name of Lord Ram. Those who believed in Lord Ram are in power, what nonsense he is talking about? He is insulting Lord Ram," the Chief Priest said.
What had Raut said?
Raut had alleged that the BJP will seek votes in the name of Lord Ram in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled this year.
"The PMO and government should shift base to Ayodhya. They will ask for votes only in Ram's name because they have done nothing else," Raut said.
Raut added that Shiv Sena members put their blood and toil into the Ram Mandir movement.
"Balasaheb Thackrey and thousands of Shiv Saniks contributed to it," he said."Even we are devotees of Ram. In fact, we are the biggest devotees of Ram and our party has sacrificed a lot for the Ram temple. They have taken our country back by 5000 years," he said.
As per temple officials, the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya's Ram Mandir will be held over seven days, starting on January 16.
On the final day, January 22, after the morning puja, the deity of Ram Lala will be consecrated in 'Mrigashira Nakshatra' in the afternoon.
(With ANI inputs)
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