On Thursday, Andhra Pradesh BJP chief Daggubati Purandeswari called upon the state government to declare January 22 as a public holiday in honor of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Expressing disappointment in the leadership of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Purandeswari criticized the state government for not actively participating in the nationwide celebrations by refraining from announcing a holiday on January 22.
Purandeswari underscored the historical significance of the Ram Mandir's construction, characterizing it as a realization of a centuries-old dream achieved through decades of perseverance. She pointed out that several other states have already declared a holiday for the consecration ceremony, contrasting it with the absence of such announcements from the Andhra Pradesh government.
Furthermore, Purandeswari highlighted that private educational institutions have already declared a holiday on January 22, emphasizing the anticipation and enthusiasm surrounding the event. She also criticized the state government for extending the Makar Sankranti break for students until January 20, with schools reopening on January 22, suggesting a possible ulterior motive behind the decision.
Purandeswari's demand coincided with the central government's announcement that all central government offices, institutions, and industrial establishments will observe a half-day on January 22.
The upcoming Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir will be led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with over 7,000 attendees expected, including politicians, celebrities, industrialists, and saints. In anticipation of the event, the idol of Ram Lalla was ceremonially placed inside the temple's sanctum sanctorum on Thursday. Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, detailed that the Pran Pratishtha is scheduled to commence at 12:20 pm on January 22 and is projected to conclude by 1 pm.
