Ram Gopal Yadav, a leader of the Samajwadi Party, sparked controversy recently with his comments regarding the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Yadav called the Ram Mandir “bekaar (useless)” as it has not been properly constructed. The remark has not gone down well with the BJP, with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath calling it an “insult to the Sanatan faith of millions of Ram devotees”.
The Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was inaugurated in January this year, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals. Opposition leaders had slammed the politics around the temple and opted to skip the mega event.
When Ram Gopal Yadav was asked about why the opposition leaders did not visit the Ram Mandir, the Samajwadi Party leader said, “Roz Ram ka darshan karte hein (We pay obeisance to Lord Ram daily)”.
He then went on to say “Wo mandir bekaar ka hai (That temple is useless)” as he criticised the ‘vastu’ of the Ayodhya temple. Vastu shastra is an ancient science that deals with the study of designing spaces in an interpersonal relationship with the forces of nature and cosmic energy.
“Are temples constructed like this? See the old temples… they are not constructed like this – from south to north. The map (of the temple) is not appropriate and not up to the mark as per ‘Vastu’,” Ram Gopal Yadav claimed.
In response, Chief Minister Adityanath condemned Yadav’s remarks, stating that they not only disrespect the sentiments of millions of devotees but also challenge the divine authority of Lord Shri Ram.
“These people are not only playing with the faith of India for vote bank but are also challenging the divine authority of Lord Shri Ram. History is witness to the fact that whoever has challenged the divine authority has faced misfortune,” Yogi Adityanath was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“Ram Gopal Yadav’s statement is an insult to the Sanatan faith of millions of Ram devotees. The faith of those who have dedicated their entire lives to the Ram Temple is being attacked. Indian society cannot accept this at all,” he added.
Yogi Adityanath accused opposition parties of using religious faith for political gain.
“Efforts are being made to preserve the vote bank by following the policy of appeasement. Their reality is clearly visible from such statements,” Yogi Adityanath said.
