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https://theconversation.com/why-a-controversial-hindu-temple-in-india-could-prove-pivotal-to-narendra-modis-party-in-upcoming-elections-219811>
"Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, famously opposed government
interference in the rebuilding of the Somnath temple, a popular religious site
for the Hindus in Gujarat, because he saw the project as a form of “Hindu
revivalism”.
In line with his idea of a secular India, Nehru wanted complete separation of
state and religion.
There are no such qualms for the current prime minister, Narendra Modi, head of
the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Images of him were beamed live across
the country in 2020 performing Hindu rituals during the foundation stone-laying
ceremony of a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram, a revered Hindu deity.
The half-completed temple, which will be the largest in India and will be
inaugurated on Monday, has been built on the site of the 16th century Babri
mosque, that was reduced to rubble by a Hindu mob in 1992. Violent riots
followed, killing more than 2,000 people, most of them minority Muslims.
After a prolonged legal battle, the Indian Supreme Court in 2019 awarded the
land where the mosque once stood to Hindus for the building of a temple.
The inauguration of the temple comes at a pivotal time for the country, with
elections due in a few months. It is likely to play a significant role in the
upcoming polls, for three main reasons."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
