New Delhi: Ahead of the grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran LK Advani said on Friday that destiny had decided that a grand temple of Lord Ram would be built in Ayodhya and Lord Ram chose his devotee Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do this. In an article, LK Advani credited the devotees of Lord Ram for the construction of the temple in Ayodhya.
Recalling the moments of his historic Rath Yatra, initiated 33 years ago on September 25, 1990, the BJP veteran said, "At the time when we started the yatra, we were not aware that this would turn into a nationwide movement. During the yatra, PM Modi was my companion. Although he was not very famous then, but at that time itself, Lord Ram had chosen his devotee (Modi) to construct the temple."
Advani called the Ayodhya movement a pivotal point in his political career. It was a journey that led him to "re-discover India and, in the process, re-understand himself."
"At the time of the Rath Yatra, there were many experiences that influenced my life. From a remote village, unknown villagers overwhelmed with emotion would come to me after seeing the chariot. They would praise Lord Ram. After witnessing these moments, I realised that many people in this country dream of the Ram temple. On January 22, not only the prestige of the Ram Temple but also the faith of these villagers will be restored," he said.
"At that time, I felt that destiny had decided that one day a grand temple of Lord Ram would be built in Ayodhya; now it's only a matter of time," he added. The BJP veteran, who was at the forefront of the Yatra, also remembered the late former prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.