In India, Modi inaugurated a temple on the ruins of a demolished mosque, marking the start of his campaign.

– / AFP

In India, Modi inaugurates a temple on the ruins of a demolished mosque, kicking off his campaign (Photo of Narendra Modi inaugurating a new temple dedicated to Rama on January 22, 2023)

INDIA – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this Monday, January 22, inaugurated a temple symbolizing the victory of his Hindu nationalist policies in the country’s north, previously occupied by a mosque whose destruction sparked violent religious riots.

Dressed in traditional gold-coloured attire, the Prime Minister unveiled a black statue dedicated to Lord Rama at the center of a new 50-metre tall temple in the city of Ayodhya. “January 22, 2024 is not just a date on the calendar, but heralds the arrival of a new era”He declared.

” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said : “It is the temple of national consciousness in the form of Rama. Ram is the faith of India, Ram is the foundation of India. Ram is the idea of ​​India, Ram is the law of India. Ram is the prestige of India, Ram is the pride of India… Ram is the leader and Ram is the policy. Rama is eternal… When Rama is honored, its effect does not last for years or centuries, its effect lasts for thousands of years. »

The temple was built on the former site of a mosque which was demolished by Hindu fundamentalists in 1992. The destruction, encouraged by members of the ruling party, led to the country’s worst religious riots since independence, in which nearly 2,000 people were killed. , most of them are Muslims. It also undermined India’s officially secular polity.

Modi’s election campaign begins

Outside, thousands of worshipers filled the streets of the city, singing and dancing, waving flags, blowing horns and beating drums, under showers of flower petals rained down by military helicopters.

For the ruling Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the inauguration of the Ram temple crowns a decades-long effort to refocus the country’s politics on the majority religion. There is also a way to unofficially start a campaign to re-elect Narendra Modi.

About 2,500 musicians are expected to perform on more than 100 stages in front of crowds of pilgrims. Many of the latter walked for days to reach the temple, which cost about $240 million to build, financed by public donations, according to authorities.

Days to visit the temple

18-year-old Vijay Kumar took four days to reach the city by walking and hitchhiking 600 kilometers. “We wanted to stay here”He declared. “We want to see the temple before we go”.

The 140 km that separates the temple from Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh state, has panels depicting the blue-skinned Lord Rama with a bow and arrow, as well as portraits of Narendra Modi and the state chief. Minister, Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath.

“It’s all because of Modi”said 35-year-old Prem Sharan, a resident of Ayodhya. “Some say the incident is being manipulated to take an electoral turn. So be it. At least they are doing what they promise and we should have the power to do things for people..

Other pilgrims have arrived at the newly built international airport and will stay in hotels designed to accommodate the expected millions of pilgrims every year. Several celebrities including former national cricket team captain Virat Kohli and Bollywood film star Amitabh Bachchan are expected to attend the opening ceremony.

“Death and Destruction”

Narendra Modi and the BJP have sought to promote and bring Hindutva to the fore since coming to power a decade ago. Hindus believe that Rama, one of the most revered of the gods, was born in the city of Ayodhya 7,000 years ago, and the Babri Masjid was built on his birthplace by a sixteenth-century Muslim emperor.

The BJP, which was not yet in power, played a key role in the campaign leading to the destruction of the mosque, organizing processions across the country that sparked several religious riots in their wake.

Narendra Modi’s inauguration of a temple with Hindu priests should strengthen his position as a guardian of the faith, ahead of the assembly elections in April. The Prime Minister’s pro-Hindu policies make the BJP heavily favored to win for the third time in a row.

Opposition parties are boycotting the event, claiming it is an election-related event.

Among India’s 200 million Muslims, already worried after a rise in inter-religious tensions, many are viewing the incident with apprehension. Mohammad Shahid, a 52-year-old Muslim, recalls how his father was burnt alive by a Hindu mob during violence that erupted in the city three decades ago. “To me, the temple is nothing but death and destruction”he said.

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