New Delhi: BJP veteran LK Advani, the face of the temple movement, with his rath yatras dominating politics in the late-’80s and early ’90s, said that it was “a historical and emotional day not only for me but for all Indians”.
“Destiny made me perform a pivotal duty in the form of Ram Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya in 1990 which helped galvanise aspirations, energies and passions of its countless participants,” said Advani.
The 92-year-old said that this temple will inspire all Indians to imbibe His virtues.
“It is also my belief that Shri Ram Mandir will represent India as a strong, prosperous, peaceful and harmonious nation with justice for all and exclusion of none so that we can truly usher in Ram Rajya, the epitome of good governance,” he added in a video statement.
Many people and organisations played a key role in the consolidation of the Ram Mandir movement in the late 1980s, including Advani’s colleagues in the BJP like Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti and groups such as the RSS and BHP. However, Advani was the undisputed political face of the movement.
With Rajiv Gandhi’s Congress government on a weak wicket because of corruption allegations and the dramatic revolt by VP Singh, the BJP decided to launch the movement to construct a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
