New Delhi: Responding to the opposition's allegations that August 5 was deliberately chosen for the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony in Ayodhya, as it was on this day that Jammu and Kashmir's special status was revoked, BJP leader Shiv Pratap Shukla said that it was a mere coincidence.
Terming the 'bhoomi pujan' ceremony at Ayodhya as a 'golden moment', Shukla said that although many would not be able to be physically present at the ceremony, they would still witness the event virtually and gain the blessings of Lord Ram.
Responding to the Opposition's claims that the government deliberately chose August 5 as the date for the ceremony in Ayodhya, Shukla said, "Now the opposition has nothing to criticise. So they have started raising speculations over the date."
"For years, BJP has been promising the public of constructing a Ram Temple and even mentioned the same in its manifesto. After years of struggle, when the Ram Temple is going to be constructed, for which the public has waited for long, the opposition has a problem," he added, urging the opposition not to raise issues on date of the ceremony, as it would hurt religious sentiments.
It is a mere coincidence that the date of Bhoomi pujan is coinciding with the abrogation of Article 370, he said adding that it is a matter of faith for BJP and the date is auspicious for laying the foundation stone.
Read: Ayodhya: Muslim women make Rakhis for Ram Lala, Modi ahead of 'Bhoomi-poojan'
It was on August 5 last year that the government revoked the special status which the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed under Article 370 of the Constitution.
Lauding the move, Shukla said that terrorism had decreased in the region and people are now witnessing development in the Union Territory.
