On Tuesday, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab celebrated the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla statue in Ayodhya but did not organize any official programme. Punjab ministers and MLAs participated in local festivities in their respective constituencies and celebrated the day with full enthusiasm.
Going a step further, Punjab minister Chetan Singh Jauramajra, who participated in a huge procession in Samana in his constituency Patiala, on Monday announced that he will send buses of pilgrims from Samana to Ayodhya completely free of cost. Addressing the Hindu community in Samana amid saffron flags and slogans of “Jai Shri Ram”, the minister announced, “Everyone has been waiting for so many years for the Ram mandir in Ayodhya. Finally, the day has come.
” In the first week, we will send two buses of pilgrims from Samana to Ayodhya. Anyone who wants to have darshan can go and no one will have to pay any fare for this. Today this is such a big opportunity for all of us that I have no words to express my happiness. Probably the biggest Shobha Yatra has been taken out in Samana today, where all of us, rising above the party line, participated.
I thank the Aggarwal community wholeheartedly. I also want you to take your children to Ayodhya so that they know about this historical moment.” This announcement has been criticized by some, saying it is an example of the Hindutva politics of the AAP government.
Others said it was a good initiative that would be beneficial for the Hindu community of Punjab. It remains to be seen how this announcement of the AAP government resonates in the politics of Punjab. This revised version is more concise and easier to understand than the original version. I did this by adding or removing some sentences and changing some words.
