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Temple Trust rebuts Rahul’s charge of not inviting President for consecration

In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, Champat Rai, general secretary of the trust, dubbed Gandhi’s allegations baseless and misleading

Updated on: May 1, 2024, 02:48:04 IST
By , LUCKNOW
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Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust on Tuesday refuted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s charges of not inviting President Droupadi Murmu for the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya because of her tribal origin.

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya (HT File Photo)
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya (HT File Photo)

At an election rally in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, recently, Rahul Gandhi had levelled these allegations against the Trust. In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, Champat Rai, general secretary of the trust, dubbed Gandhi’s allegations baseless and misleading.

“Making such false, baseless and misleading speeches without proper knowledge of facts can create serious differences in the society. Hence, these aspects of the speech are deeply offensive to us,” said Rai in a statement posted on official handle of the Trust on X.

“I would like to tell Mr Rahul Gandhi that both the respected President of Bharat, Smt Droupadi Murmu, and former President Shri Ram Nath Kovind were invited to the auspicious ceremony held in Ayodhya,” said Rai. “Saints, families and dignitaries from various fields who have contributed to the progress of Bharat, belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, were invited,” he added.

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“Also, the shramiks involved in the construction of the mandir were also present in the Prana Pratishtha ceremony. Even during the Prana Pratishtha rituals, many families belonging to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes & other backward castes were given the opportunity to worship in the “Goodh Mandap” of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir,” Rai said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had presided over the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22 this year. Vedic rituals were performed under the supervision of priests from Varanasi. Along with the PM, VVIPs in large numbers were also invited for the mega opening ceremony of Ram Mandir.

President Droupadi Murmu to visit Ayodhya today

President Droupadi Murmu to visit Ayodhya on Wednesday , she will pay darshan at Ram Janmabhoomi temple and offer prayer at Hanuman Garhi temple

Ayodhya administration received the minute to minute programme of the President on Tuesday evening.

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Ayodhya district magistrate Nitish Kumar told that the President will land at Ayodhya airport at 4 PM where she will be received by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandi Ben Patel

At 4:50 in the evening she will perform worship at Hanuman Garhi temple and at 5:45 she will take part in Saryu Aarti , at 6:45 she will pay darshan at Ram Janmabhoomi temple then at 7:15 PM the President will visit Kuber Teela located in the premises of Ram Janmabhoomi. After completing her Ayodhya visit of more than three hours she will return to New Delhi in late evening

  • Pawan Dixit
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Pawan Dixit

    Pawan Dixit, Assistant Editor, brings over 20 years of frontline reporting experience to the newsroom. A specialist on Uttar Pradesh politics and governance, he has reported from the ground across the state’s most consequential stories. He cut his teeth in eastern UP, spending 15 years covering the region. Based in Varanasi, he reported the 2012 UP Assembly polls and the 2014 Lok Sabha elections that reshaped the state’s political map. Moving to Lucknow in 2016, he has since led coverage of the 2017 and 2022 UP Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. His reporting tracks the BJP’s strategy, opposition moves, and voter sentiment across all 75 districts. Pawan has been a constant presence in Ayodhya since 2016. He reported the entire arc of the Ram Mandir movement — from the legal fight to the Supreme Court verdict, through temple construction, to the inauguration. He continues to track every development at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. On the state beat, he covers the BJP, the Industrial Development Department, and handles key outstation political assignments. He also reports major cases from the district court, Lucknow bench of the High Court, and the State Information Commission. Along with this, he also reports on NGT's important decisions related to UP. Known for sharp sourcing and clear analysis, Pawan connects politics, policy, infrastructure and faith — the forces driving UP today. He has reported developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir movement since 2016. The Supreme Court's Ram Mandir verdict, temple construction and the its opening have been reported by him. He reports all developments in Ayodhya and Ram Mandir Trust. He covers state BJP, Industrial development department, outstation political assignments, reports special cases from district court, high court and state information commissionRead More