Only ‘devotees of Lord Ram’ invited to the ceremony: Ayodhya priest

Ayodhya: The chief priest at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on Sunday said invitation for Ram Temple consecration have been sent out to only those are ‘devotees of Lord Ram’, news agency ANI reported.

Acharya Satyendra Das was responding to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s remarks that he had not been invited for the event in Ayodhya later this month.

‘Invitations are only extended to those who are devotees of Lord Ram. It is totally wrong to say that BJP is fighting in the name of Lord Ram, our PM is respected everywhere. He has done immense work under his tenure. This is not politics. This is his devotion,’ ANI quoted Acharya Satyendra Das as saying.

Pinning down on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s remarks that ‘BJP is left now to announce Lord Ram as their candidate’, Acharya Satyendra Das said Sanjay Raut was insulting Lord Ram.

‘Sanjay Raut has so much pain that even he can't express that, they were the ones who used to fight elections in the name of Lord Ram. Those who believed in Lord Ram are in power, what nonsense he is talking about? He is insulting Lord Ram,’ Chief Priest reportedly said.

Earlier today, Shiv Sena (UBT faction) leader Sanjay Raut hit out at the BJP saying that the saffron party will seek votes in the name of Lord Ram.

Coming down heavily on the Modi administration, Raut said the PMO and government should shift their base to Ayodhya.

Raut claimed that Shiv Sena leader Balasaheb Thackrey and thousands of Shiv Saniks contributed to the Ram Mandir, adding that ‘we are the biggest devotees of Ram and our party has sacrificed a lot for the Ram temple.’

Criticizing the BJP further, he said ‘they have taken our country back by 5000 years.’

The consecration ceremony in Ayodhya's Ram Mandir will begin on January 16 lasting over seven days till January 22 when the deity will be consecrated in 'Mrigashira Nakshatra' in the afternoon.