PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid glowing tributes to VHP leader late Ashok Singhal, marking his birth centenary, and said the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya could be constructed because of stalwarts like him who selflessly immersed themselves in the effort to make it possible. In a signed op-ed article published in major newspapers a day after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader’s birth anniversary, Modi said Singhal was blessed with remarkable clarity of thought, and one area where it was clearly seen was his belief that the “country’s society needs to be harmonious” and that “the message of brotherhood has to be reaffirmed”. The Prime Minister said no mention of Singhal is complete without recalling his pivotal role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. “Who can forget his address at the Boat Club Rally in 1991? Or the defining image of an injured and bleeding Ashok Ji at the peak of the movement. Today, if there is a grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, it is because of stalwarts like him who selflessly immersed themselves in the effort to make it possible,” he said.

 

Modi said Singhal would have been the happiest person on seeing the Ram temple take shape in Ayodhya. The firebrand Hindutva leader was born on September 27, 1926 and died on November 17, 2015. The Prime Minister said Singhal worked towards strengthening social unity and equality, and he firmly believed that there could be no distinction of any kind in society and that every individual deserved equal dignity and respect. He said it was the late leader’s thought that the first brick of the Ram temple in Ayodhya would be laid by Kameshwar Choupal, a grassroots VHP worker from Bihar who hailed from the marginalised section of society. “At a Dharm Sansad in Kashi (Varanasi), he decided that the Dom Raja would be honoured and went on to work with him as part of various community efforts,” Modi said. Singhal’s mind was constantly running, thinking about what more one can do for those on the margins of society, according to the Prime Minister.