LOK Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday moved a resolution on the Ayodhya Ram Temple, describing its construction as a historic achievement, and said it will give the values of hope and unity to future generations. Reading out the resolution at the end of a nearly four-hour-long discussion on “the construction of historic Shri Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ramlala” in the House, he said after centuries of wait, the Ram temple in Ayodhya has ushered in a new era of good governance and public welfare. The Speaker noted that the temple is symbolic of the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat”. Soon after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict, the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi “inspired society about peace instead of a feeling of victory or defeat”, Birla said, referring to the court’s 2019 judgement in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title case. He said that through this resolution, the members of the House appreciate the historic work accomplished in Ayodhya.

 

The temple being constructed in Ayodhya is not a structure created out of stones but is filled with the feelings of faith and belief, Birla said. Birla recalled that ahead of the January 22 consecration ceremony at the temple, the Prime Minister visited various religious sites and gave a message of national unity. In fulfilment of this moment, a large part of the judiciary and society played a key role, he said. Earlier, Opposition parties on Saturday walked out of the Rajya Sabha opposing the BJP government’s white paper on the economy, with the CPI(M) also refusing to participate in the discussion on the Ram Temple in the House. The Left party said it will not become “party to communalise the political situation”. Both Houses of Parliament -- the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha -- are holding a discussion on “the construction of historic Shri Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ramlala”.

 

Members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) were among those who walked out over the white paper brought by the government in Parliament to compare the state of the economy during the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regimes. Participating in the discussion on the white paper in the Rajya Sabha, CPI(M) member John Brittas said, “Protesting against the discrimination shown to Kerala, we are walking out. “We are also not party to communalise the political situation,” he said on the discussion on the Ram temple, which will be held after that on the white paper. “This is not a white paper. This is an election paper. Selective amnesia and cherry picking. Finance minister (Nirmala Sitharaman) has said 2004-2009 was a good period but she gave the credit to the previous (NDA) government. Strange enough,” the leader of the Left party said.