Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated in the Lok Sabha on Saturday that January 22, the day of the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, "marked the beginning of Bharat's new journey". Joining the discussion on the construction of the Ram Mandir in the Lower House, Amit Shah said India cannot be imagined without Lord Ram.
"22 January was the beginning of great India... Those who imagine a country without lord Ram do not know our country well and they represent the days of colonialism. I want to say that those who don't know their history end up losing their identity... 22 January will be a historic day for the years to come...It was the day that fulfilled the hopes & aspirations of all Ram devotees," Amit Shah said.
He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for observing the 11-day fast before Ram Mandir opening.
Addressing the last parliament session before the general election, the Union Home Minister also said, "A 300-year dream realised under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and PM Modi and the BJP delivered what they promised."
"No one can read the history of this country by ignoring the Ram Mandir movement. Since 1528, every generation has seen this movement in some form or the other. This matter remained stuck for a long time. This dream had to be fulfilled during the time of the Modi government," Shah noted.
Senior BJP leader Satyapal Singh initiated the discussion on the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the Pran Pratishtha of Ramlalla.
Beginning the discussion, Satyapal Singh said, "Where there is Ram, there is religion...those who destroy Dharma are killed and those who protect Dharma are protected. Congress is in this situation in this country today because they rejected Lord Ram at that time...".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the House when he will reply to the Motion of Thanks on the Ram Mandir, as the final Parliament session before the Lok Sabha election concludes today.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress stated that the party will not take part in the discussion on Ram Mandir in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said, "Anything and everything can be discussed and should be discussed. Fortunately, if there is a genuine free and fair discussion with equal opportunity to all sides, then you have the advantage of the BJP not being able to foist false defamation cases".
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi stated that whatever discussion will be done "should be beyond politics and by keeping Ram Temple away from politics".
The Rajya Sabha will also have a discussion on the White Paper, which claimed the banking crisis and financial mismanagement by the Congress-led UPA government. BJP MPs Sushil Kumar Modi and Prakash Javadekar will initiate the discussion on the White Paper.
The BJP had issued a whip to its MPs in Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha to ensure their presence in Parliament on account of some "very important" legislative business.
Congress had also issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha members, mandating the MPs to be present in the House.
The Budget session of Parliament, the last of the 17th Lok Sabha, began on January 31. It was initially scheduled to conclude on February 9 and has been extended by a day.
This is the last session of the current Lok Sabha before the general elections, which are likely to be held in April-May this year.
