RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat calls for unity ahead of Ram temple event

As the nation anticipates the Pran Pratistha ceremony for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has emphasized the historical context of the event. In an article published in Marathi, Bhagwat delves into India's prolonged struggle against invaders and the systematic destruction of religious places, including the demolition of the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya. He urges an end to the decades-long conflict surrounding the Ayodhya dispute and envisions social reconstruction embodying the virtues of Lord Ram.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, in the lead-up to the Ram Temple's Pran Pratistha ceremony, reflects on the historical significance of the Ayodhya dispute. Bhagwat's article highlights India's 1,500-year struggle against invaders and the deliberate destruction of religious places to weaken society. He emphasizes that the demolition of the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya was part of a broader war strategy employed by invaders. The RSS chief underscores the attempts to control Lord Ram's birthplace, referencing the failed 1857 War of Independence and British efforts to divide Hindus and Muslims.

Bhagwat discusses the post-independence legal battle and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement that gained momentum in the 1980s, leading to the Supreme Court's decision in favor of the Hindu side in 2019. The RSS chief calls for unity, emphasizing the need for social reconstruction, envisioning a society reflecting the virtues of Lord Ram. He urges an end to the conflict and bitterness surrounding the dispute, stating, "Ayodhya means a city 'where there is no war,' 'a place free from conflict.'"