Representational.
Chennai: Superstar Rajnikanth said on Tuesday that the Pran Pratishtha event of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, which he attended, was purely spiritual. He said that he was very glad that he was among the first who have darshan of Lord Ram, PTI reported.
Contending that individuals' views differed, he said he considered that it was entirely a spiritual event.
The actor said upon his arrival here, "As far as I am concerned, it's spiritual," he told reporters when asked about the opposition's criticism that the event assumed political overtones.
"I had already answered. It's spiritual," Rajinikanth replied when a reporter persisted with the question.
"I had a very good darshan, being the first among 150 persons to have darshan. I am very happy. This historical incident is spiritual," he stressed.
Everybody need not concur with the same view, Rajinikanth said and added, "That (calling it political) is their view. I had said it's spiritual." The Congress and the Left parties had boycotted Monday's consecration ceremony.
In another news, Congress leader and MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, defended his social media post featuring an image of the Lord Ram idol in Ayodhya, accompanied by the message 'Siyavar Ram ki jai.' The curious fact is that he is from a party which totally opposed the Ram Temple, chose not to participate in the inaugural event and declined invites.
Tharoor clarified that the intent behind the post was to express his devotion to Lord Ram and emphasised that not every 'Ram bhakt' supports the BJP. He asserted that secularism signifies pluralism, allowing individuals to profess their chosen religion.