Ram temple to foster brotherhood, harmony: Temple trust member

New Delhi, Aug. 2: The decades-long movement for building a Ram temple in Ayodhya may have been marked by political and, at times, social discord, but the beginning of its construction from August 5 will foster in society “brotherhood and harmony”, the values associated with Lord Ram, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust member Kameshwar Chaupal said on Sunday.

The trust, formed by the central government following the Supreme Court’s ruling in November last in favour of building the temple at the site, has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple on August 5.

“This will also be a foundation stone of Ram Rajya in the country. Ram’s life encapsulates the values of social harmony and brotherhood. The temple will foster these values in our society,” Chaupal said.

Chaupal, a key figure of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and a Dalit member of the trust, said that the BJP politically benefitted from the movement because the party associated itself with it and even “sacrificed” its four governments, including in Uttar Pradesh, for the sake of the temple.

The Congress government at the Centre had dismissed four BJP-ruled state governments in 1992 following the demolition of Babri mosque during a “kar seva” led by Hindutva organisations. “Our movement never barred any political party from joining it. It was like the gushing water of Ganges, with some collecting its sacred water and some not despite the river flowing near their door,” he said.