In the hours leading up to the highly anticipated inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Monday, January 22, prominent figures from the Malayalam film industry took to social media to share images of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. This symbolic act serves as a poignant reminder of the nation's secular, socialist, and democratic principles on a day when the BJP fulfils a significant Hindutva promise.
Actors such as Parvathy Thiruvothu, Rima Kallingal, Divya Prabha, and Kani Kusruti, along with directors Jeo Baby, Aashiq Abu, Kamal KM, and singer Sooraj Santhosh, posted photos of the Constitution’s Preamble. The excerpt underlines the commitment to justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity as enshrined in the Constitution on the day that marks a significant milestone for the BJP.
The consecration of the Ram Temple, known as 'Pran Pratishtha,' is scheduled to commence at 12:20 pm on January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a gathering of over 8,000 attendees, including religious leaders and notable personalities. The event has prompted heightened security measures, with over 13,000 security personnel deployed.
The inauguration signifies the conclusion of the BJP and Sangh Parivar’s Ram Janmabhoomi campaign, tracing back to the demolition of the 16th-century Babri Masjid in 1992. The demolition, a result of a concerted Hindutva movement, led to communal riots resulting in over 2,000 deaths. The contested site claimed as the birthplace of Lord Ram, has been a focal point of legal battles dating back to 1950.
In 2010, the High Court ruled for a three-way division of the disputed area, allocating portions to the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara, and the deity Ram Lalla. Nine years later, the Supreme Court granted the entire 2.77 acres to Ram Lalla, while directing the Uttar Pradesh government to allot five acres for the construction of a mosque.
Despite acknowledging the demolition as an "egregious violation of the rule of law," the verdict faced criticism for seemingly prioritizing "faith over fact" in determining land possession.