Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a grand temple to Hindu god Ram in the flashpoint city of Ayodhya. The temple replaces a 16th-century mosque torn down by Hindu mobs in 1992, sparking riots in which nearly 2,000 people died.
The inauguration, described as a historic occasion by Mr. Modi, has drawn criticism from some Hindu seers and the opposition, who have accused the government of exploiting a religious celebration for political gain. The construction of the temple fulfills a decades-long Hindu nationalist pledge, with many Hindus believing that the Babri mosque was built by Muslim invaders on the ruins of a temple where the Hindu god was born.
The ceremony for the temple, which was televised live, showed Mr. Modi performing religious rituals inside the temple’s sanctum. The temple, constructed at a cost of $217m, was funded through private donations and is expected to be fully completed by the end of the year. The Indian Prime Minister’s political rivals have alleged that the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will seek votes in the temple’s name in the upcoming general elections.
While the inauguration has been celebrated by Hindus in India and around the world, Muslims view the event with fear and painful memories. The Supreme Court gave the disputed land to Hindus in 2019 after a protracted legal battle followed the mosque’s demolition, and Muslims were given a plot outside the city for a mosque but have yet to build one.
Despite the festivities, some top religious seers and opposition leaders chose to stay away from the event, with Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, announcing her plan to lead an all-faith rally. Meanwhile, authorities in Odisha have unveiled plans to bring pilgrims to the Jagannath temple in Puri. The construction of the temple has led to a major makeover of Ayodhya, with new hotels being built and existing ones being spruced up. Additionally, a new airport and railway station have opened, with officials aiming to make Ayodhya a “world-class city where people come as pilgrims and tourists”.
While the construction of the temple has led to widespread celebrations among Hindus, it has also sparked controversy and reignited historical tensions surrounding the Babri mosque. With the temple’s inauguration, it remains to be seen how it will shape the political landscape in India and how it will impact communal relations in the country.