Political row over Ayodhya rituals

NEWDELHI: The timing of the start of construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, at a time the country is in the midst of the fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, and an invitation extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend it by the trust mandated to oversee the construction have sparked a political debate.

A day after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar criticised the timing of the bhoomi pujan, set for August 5, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh questioned the invitation extended to Modi to the ceremony by the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which was formed last year to construct the temple.

Singh said the Centre had appointed BJP and VHP leaders as members of the trust while

CONG’S DIGVIJAYA SINGH QUESTIONED THE INVITE TO MODI, A DAY AFTER NCP’S PAWAR SAID SOME PEOPLE THINK BUILDING A TEMPLE IN AYODHYA WILL HELP BEAT COVID

overlooking religious figures like the Shankaracharyas.

Pawar, whose party is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi ruling coalition in Maharashtra, together with the Shiv Sena and Congress, said on Sunday that some people think building a temple in Ayodhya will help eradicate the Covid-19 pandemic.

His remarks exposed fissures within the coalition.