As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for the foundation stone laying ceremony for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has said the bhoomi poojan will become an occasion of national unity with the blessings of Lord Ram.
Taking to Twitter, Vadra said, "Simplicity, courage, restraint, sacrifice and commitment are the essence of Lord Ram. Ram is within everyone, Ram is with everyone."
"With the grace of Lord Ram and Mother Sita, the bhoomi poojan ceremony of the temple will become an occasion for national unity, fraternity and cultural congregation," the Congress leader tweeted.
She said for ages Lord Ram's character had served as a source of unity for the entire Indian subcontinent.
"Ramayana has left an indelible mark on the civilization of the world and the Indian subcontinent. For ages, Lord Ram's character has helped the Indian subcontinent. Lord Ram belongs to everybody. Lord Ram wants everybody's welfare. That is why he is called 'Maryada Purshottam'," she said ahead of the grand celebrations planned in Ayodhya tomorrow.
Also read: Ram Mandir Bhoomi Poojan: Here's PM Modi's itinerary for August 5
Security has been beefed up in Ayodhya with multiple agencies taking over the security net.
Besides local police force, about 3,500 policemen, 40 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and 10 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been requisitioned from other districts for deployment in Ayodhya for the event.
Barricades are already in place in Ayodhya and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued an appeal, asking only those invited for August 5 bhoomi pujan ceremony to come to the temple town.
The CM, who visited Ayodhya on August 3 to oversee preparations for the event, said that the COVID-19 protocol will be strictly followed during the bhoomi pujan ceremony for Ram temple.
The Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary on August 3 said 175 eminent guests have been invited for the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The invitation list has been prepared only after "personally discussing" with BJP veterans LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, lawyer K Parasaran and other dignitaries, the trust's general secretary, Champat Rai said.
He said 175 eminent guests, including 135 seers belonging to as many spiritual traditions, would be present at the programme, adding that some eminent citizens of the temple town have also been invited.
Salil Singhal, the nephew of late VHP leader Ashok Singhal, will be the "yajmaan" (ritual patron) at the ceremony. Hindu seers from Nepal have also been invited as Janakpur has relations with Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya, Rai said.
(With PTI inputs)
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