The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has accused the Tamil Nadu government led by MK Stalin of prohibiting events related to the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Sitharaman, a senior BJP leader, labeled the actions of the DMK government as “anti-Hindu” and filled with hatred. As the preparations for the pran pratishtha ceremony reached its final stages, Sitharaman expressed her concerns about the ban on watching live telecasts of Ayodhya Ram Mandir programs on January 22 in Tamil Nadu.
She highlighted that there are more than 200 temples dedicated to Shri Ram in Tamil Nadu, but the HR and CE managed temples do not allow any puja, bhajan, prasadam, or annadanam in the name of Shri Ram. Furthermore, privately held temples are also facing restrictions from organizing events, with the police even threatening to dismantle pandals. The Finance Minister shared these grievances on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The state administration, however, refuted these claims as ‘misleading information with hidden motives’. It is deeply regrettable that individuals in positions of power, such as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others, are intentionally disseminating this inaccurate information, as stated in a social media post.Furthermore, the state minister emphasized that the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments department has not imposed any restrictions on devotees’ rights to offer food, perform rituals in the name of Shri Ram, or distribute prasad in temples across Tamil Nadu.The ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla is scheduled to occur on Monday morning, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other esteemed guests in attendance. To ensure security, the temple town has witnessed an increase in the deployment of Rapid Action Force personnel at strategic locations.
The Sarayu River is currently being patrolled by the police using boats at regular intervals. Additionally, the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya has stationed anti-bomb squad and dog squad teams. Strict security measures are in place at the airport, with thorough checks being conducted on all vehicles entering and leaving. Entry to the airport is strictly restricted to individuals with valid passes.