In response to Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole’s remarks that the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir will be purified when the I.N.D.I Alliance comes to power at the Centre, the Mandir pujari of Hanumangarhi, Mahant Raju Das, said that the Congress has now started insulting the tribal and Dalit communities.
“Till now the Congress party used to oppose only the Ram Mandir, but it is unfortunate that now the Congress party has started insulting the tribal and Dalit communities also, “Mahant Raju Das said, speaking to ANI on May 10.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: On Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole's statement regarding Ram Temple, Hanuman Garhi temple priest Mahant Raju Das says, "Till now the Congress party used to oppose only the Ram temple, but it is unfortunate that now the Congress party has started… pic.twitter.com/71gTpOu95K
— ANI (@ANI) May 10, 2024
Condemning Nana Patole’s statement, the Mandir pujari said that such comments are dangerous for the country.
“The statement of Maharashtra Congress State President Nana Patole is unfortunate and insulting the Dalit community by making such statements is very dangerous for India. The Congress State President has said that if their Government is formed, they will purify the Ram Mandir again. What purification will you do?” Mahant Raju Das said.
“Till now they used to oppose the Ram Mandir and were not allowing the Ram Mandir to be built. The public will definitely demand answers from the way the Congress Party is insulting tribals, Dalits and backward people,” he said.
Nana Patole triggered a political storm with his controversial statement that the Shankaryacharyas would be purifying the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir following religious protocols when the Congress-led I.N.D.I Alliance comes to power at the Centre.
Maharashtra Congress president said, “We are going to purify Ram Mandir in Ayodhya after I.N.D.I Alliance comes to power. Shankaracharyas were opposing this (Pran Pratishtha), all the four Shankaracharyas will purify the Ram Mandir. Ram Darbar will be established in that place. It is not Bhagwan Ram’s murti there, but the child form of Ram Lalla. Narendra Modi has acted against protocol in Ram Mandir construction. We will do it through rectifications and religion.”
Pujaris and spiritual leaders condemn Nana Patole’s remarks
Mahant Narayan Giri, Juna Akhara spokesperson, said, “Nana Patole has given a very absurd statement. This is an insult to all the Sadhus of the country… The way he talked about purification after the President (Droupadi Murmu) worshipped the Ram Temple is an insult to the backward communities. He is also insulting the Hindus. It is necessary to punish people like him. The statement by Nana Patole is very bad and we strongly condemn it.”
Spiritual leader Swami Dipankar also condemned Nana Patole’s remarks and said, “I am very surprised by Nana Patole’s statement on Ram Mandir… I cannot understand what purification is he talking about. I cannot understand what kind of mindset is this… I would say that this is the Mandir of Ram and it has no place for this kind of mindset.” He added further, “I believe that this is a very cheap mindset. This is a mindset of dividing the society on the basis of caste… I believe the time has come to boycott this kind of thinking that divides the society.”
Acharya Dr Chandranshu, National storyteller and Hindu religious leader in Ayodhya said, “The statement of Nana Patole on the purification of Ram Mandir is an insult to the 140 crore of Indians. The construction of Ram Mandir was done by people of all castes… The invitation was extended to Congress as well but they didn’t like it… The statement comes after President Droupadi Murmu visited the Garbhagriha and worshipped Ram. Does Congress want to say that this purification is required because Droupadi Murmu visited the place?”
The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya’s historic Mandir was held on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing the Vedic rituals, led by a group of pujaris.
Representatives of all major spiritual and religious sects in the country, people from all walks of life, and representatives of various tribal communities attended the ceremony.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is constructed in the traditional ‘Nagara’ style. Its length (East-West) is 380 feet, its width is 250 feet, and its height is 161 feet. It is supported by 392 pillars and 44 doors.
(with inputs from ANI)
