Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a highly political temple on Monday, January 22, on the ruins of a mosque destroyed by Hindu extremists in 1992. Months before the election, the event touted as a turning point for civilization underscores the influence of Hindu nationalism in heart.
The saffron flags flying everywhere stand out amidst the winter haze that shrouds the city of Ayodhya, in northern India. Along the shops leading to the temple, Ram statues and miniature shrines are sold. In the distance, we can see a crane working on the structure. The workers passed through the foyer shouting “ Jai Shree Ram » (“ Victory for Rama “). It is impossible to enter the temple for security reasons, as it is far from finished. This did not prevent Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi from inaugurating it during a religious ceremony on Monday, January 22. This event, “waited for centuries” and prepared with great fanfare with billions of euros of public and private money, coinciding with a political campaign for his third term in office. The stars do everything well. “There is nothing political about this. this is about eliminating the impatience of the congregation”clearly one of the people responsible for the construction site of the century in India.
