VHP Defends 'Pran Pratishtha' At 'Incomplete' Ayodhya Temple Decision, Says 3 Shankaracharyas Are Happy

Following Digvijay Singh's comment on Ayodhya Ram temple inauguration, VHP leader Alok Kumar slammed the Congress. He said Ram Lalla's idol will be installed on the ground floor, which is complete.

VHP's Alok Kumar (right) slammed Digvijaya Singh (left) for his "incomplete Ram temple" comment. ( Image Source :Facebook@DigvijayaSinghOfficial / @alokvhp )

Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) international working president Alok Kumar slammed Congress MP Digvijay Singh for his comment on the Ram Lalla idol consecration in Ayodhya on January 22 at an "incomplete" temple. Kumar said that the claim of the temple being "incomplete" isn’t true. He said the ground floor, where Ram Lalla is to be settled, is complete.

Kumar said that the ‘muhurat’ (auspicious time) for the pran pratishtha, or consecration, is 12.20 PM on January 12 and the ceremony will take place in a fully constructed temple with all the required rituals.

#WATCH | Delhi: Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) International Working President Alok Kumar says, "Digvijiya Singh's statement that the temple is incomplete, is not true. Ram Lalla is to be settled on the ground floor, which is complete... A 'muhurat' (auspicious time) has been… pic.twitter.com/V6UqLPClRw

— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2024

“I have never seen such a reason to decline the invitation stating that the temple is incomplete except from the Head of Jyotish Peeth. Three Shankaracharyas have expressed joy at the completion of the temple and welcomed the Pranpratishtha”, the VHP leader told ANI. However, 

Kumar said Digvijaya mentioned the names of parties in the I.N.D.I.A and that "some mausere bhais [cousins] have chosen not to attend". Kumar added that the VHP spearheaded this (Ram Janmabhoomi) movement, and the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra does not have the means to invite people from 10 crore houses. "VHP relies on workers as messengers. Unfortunately, the help that should have been offered by everyone was not extended due to concerns about the minority vote bank," he said.

On Thursday, Congress MP Digvijaya Singh took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party and asked what the consecration was about when the construction of the Ram Temple was not yet complete. He went on to assert that the consecration in Ayodhya seems to be a calculated effort to gain political advantage by turning it into an election issue.

Singh's comments followed the reported refusal of Congress leaders to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya Ram Mandir, scheduled for January 22. Additionally, Singh took a dig at the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and questioned its involvement in the construction of the Ram Temple, expressing scepticism about its role in the project.

Digvijaya Singh further stated that "BJPfication" of the (pran pratishtha) ceremony is being done and full control has been given to the people of VHP. "This is BJPfication of the pran pratishtha ceremony. Full control has been given to the people of the VHP. We have an objection. What has VHP got to do with the Ram Temple construction?... We will go to the Ram Temple happily. But let it be completed first," Digvijaya Singh said.