The Bhoomi Poojan ceremony for the construction of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya was conducted yesterday (August 5) with Prime Minister Narendra Modi presiding and performing the Bhoomi Poojan amidst the chant of Vedas.
While a few who could not stomach the construction of the Ram Temple at Ram Janmabhoomi fumed through op-eds and articles, many leaders across political parties and religions wished well for the Bhoomi Poojan.
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi took to their social media to express their wishes for the construction of the temple.
मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम भगवान राम सर्वोत्तम मानवीय गुणों का स्वरूप हैं। वे हमारे मन की गहराइयों में बसी मानवता की मूल भावना हैं।
राम प्रेम हैं
वे कभी घृणा में प्रकट नहीं हो सकतेराम करुणा हैं
वे कभी क्रूरता में प्रकट नहीं हो सकतेराम न्याय हैं
वे कभी अन्याय में प्रकट नहीं हो सकते।— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 5, 2020
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Congress General Secretary organized a Hanuman Chalisa chanting session and donated silver bricks to the temple.
In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami too extended his congratulations on behalf of the people of Tamil Nadu for the Bhoomi Poojan event.
அயோத்தியில் ராமர் கோவில் கட்டுவதற்கு 5.8.2020 அன்று நடைபெறவுள்ள பூமி பூஜை சிறப்பாக நடைபெறுவதற்கு எனது சார்பாகவும், தமிழ்நாட்டு மக்களின் சார்பாகவும் மனமார்ந்த வாழ்த்துகளை தெரிவித்துக் கொள்கிறேன்.
— Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) August 4, 2020
Even Khushbu Sundar belonging to the Tamil Nadu Congress extended her wishes and went one step ahead by saying “Bolo Siya Ramchandra ji Jai”.
#RamMandir #LordRam Bolo Siya Ramachandra ki Jai. #JaiShreeRam
— KhushbuSundar ❤️ (@khushsundar) August 5, 2020
As expected, the DMK and its allies VCK and Communist parties had a meltdown as the foundation stone was laid for the temple. They had trended #TamilPrideRaavanaa and #LandOfRavana without realizing that the hero they were celebrating was a north Indian Brahmin.
On the other hand, popular stars of Tamil cinema – Kamal Hasan, Vijay, Surya, Karthi, who otherwise resort to virtue signalling by commenting on issues that they have no expertise on, have kept mum. While it was expected that Kamal Hasan would speak against the construction of the temple to appease Muslims, he hasn’t said anything so far.
However, one man’s silence has raised eyebrows. The man who has promised to usher in ‘spiritual politics’ in Tamil Nadu as an alternative to the Dravidian politics has not said anything on the occasion of Bhoomi Pookan. Rajinikanth, had earlier condemned the abuse of Hindu God Murugan and Kandha Sashti Kavasam through a tweet, several days after widespread public outrage against Karuppar Koottam, that led to the trending of the hashtag #கந்தனுக்கு அரோகரா (Victory be to Lord Muruga!)
His silence has puzzled both his fans and political observers. Probably, Rajini is gauging the mood of the Tamil populace so that he could play it safe.