Union Minister Narayan Rane hit out at Shankaracharyas over their decision to skip the consecration ceremony of Ramlalla in Ayodhya Mandir. He said that they should bless the Ram Temple instead of criticising some aspects of it. He then accused them of looking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through a 'political prism'. He asked the Shankaracharyas to spell out their own contribution to Hinduism, as reported by news agency PTI.
PTI quoted Rane as saying, "No one could do it until now. Modi, BJP took it up and a temple is being built. Should they bless the temple or criticise it? It means Shankaracharyas look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP through a political prism. This temple is not built on politics but on religion. Ram is our God. Shankaracharyas should tell what is their contribution to the Hindu religion."
Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe while reacting to Rane's statements accused him of insulting the Hindu religion and its spiritual heads
When Rane was asked about Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray saying that President Droupadi Murmu should inaugurate the Ram Temple instead of PM Modi, Rane responded by saying that he would not comment on someone "who has no job and sits at home." He claimed that Thackeray's faction would take a further hit as "eight out of 16 MLAs with him are approaching us (BJP-led ruling alliance) and would join soon," reported PTI.
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Earlier on Friday, the VHP working president Alok Kumar said that two of the four Shankaracharyas have "openly welcomed" the upcoming inauguration ceremony. He then added that none of them would attend the grand event to be held in Ayodhya on January 22 but would visit the temple later at their convenience.