The ongoing political discord surrounding the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya persisted in Bihar, with two ministers from Nitish Kumar's Cabinet, Surendra Ram and Tej Pratap Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), directing criticism towards the ruling BJP regarding the event's timing and ostentation.
Surendra Ram, Bihar's labor resource minister, accused the BJP of exploiting the Ram Temple issue for political advantage, contending that the ceremonial akshat being distributed was inconsequential compared to the urgent need for job opportunities for the country's youth. He raised questions about the BJP's motives behind the grand ceremony, asserting that it was an attempt to divert attention from its shortcomings by orchestrating an extensive propaganda campaign around the temple consecration. Drawing attention to economic concerns, he highlighted the rupee's depreciation against the dollar and emphasized that the youth sought employment rather than symbolic offerings like Akshat.
In a separate instance, Tej Pratap Yadav, the state minister for environment, forests, and climate change, expressed skepticism about the sanctity of the scheduled date for the consecration, January 22, 2024. Speaking at an event in Patna, Tej Pratap, while questioning the extravagance surrounding the Ram Temple Pran Pratistha ceremony, claimed to have had a dream where Lord Ram communicated to him, stating his lack of intention to return on January 22, 2024. This peculiar assertion elicited laughter from the audience. Tej Pratap also directed criticism towards the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), branding the organization as a divisive force aiming to fragment the nation for its own gains.
In response to the RJD ministers' attacks, BJP spokesperson Kuntal Krishna countered, suggesting that Surendra Ram may have forgotten that it is the RJD orchestrating the unrest. He alleged that a campaign to tarnish the Ram Mandir consecration was being run on Lalu's instructions.
