TMC cites Puri seer to stress 'temple a poll gimmick' view
Times of India | 15 January 2024
KOLKATA: Trinamool on Sunday quoted Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati to bolster its statement that the Ram Mandir inauguration was a "gimmick" before the Lok Sabha polls.
Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said: "Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati ji has given his religious perspective. He has refused to endorse this (Ram Mandir inauguration and pran pratistha).He said the temple had not yet been completed and also asked who would do the pran pratishtha."
"If you adhere to the religion, puja rituals and the sacred texts, then who will do the pran pratistha ... which purohit, which sevayat? But instead of that if a political personality with political interests wants to perform pran pratistha, that too in an incomplete temple ... that is the assessment of Puri Shankaracharya. And we believe the Puri Shankaracharya is a bigger Hindu than PM Narendra Modi and BJP president J P Nadda," Ghosh said.
Describing the Ram Mandir inauguration as a pre-poll BJP gimmick, CM Mamata Banerjee had earlier vowed not to allow any division and discrimination in the name of religion, caste and creed in Bengal
The Trinamool spokesperson said: "We have very clear views on this. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has made it clear, religion is personal, festivals are for all. We respect all religions. People revere Ram, offers pujas to him. It is their right to offer puja... People pray in their hearts, their homes, in temples. There is no confusion on paying respects or praying to Lord Ram. But the issue is misusing Ram, with an eye on politics, ahead of the polls. They are giving Ram the status of a God but making him an election agent."
Ghosh accused the BJP leadership of engaging in the "business" of Hindu religion.
Party spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya, too, said: "Have you heard of grihaprabesh in an incomplete home? In their hurry, they are giving Ram a home without a roof on his head. Because had they waited for the temple to the completed, they could not have reaped the political mileage since the elections would have been over. Hence, this hurry to do this before polls. And we believe all people will understand that they (BJP) are more keen on doing politics with religion."
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