Modi calls for strong, divine country for next 1,000 years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the consecration of the idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya marks the advent of a new era and gave a call to people to go beyond the shrine’s construction to build the foundation of a strong, grand and divine India of the next 1,000 years.

Describing the inauguration of Ram temple, coming after a long wait, as not only a moment of celebration but also realisation of the maturity of Indian society, he said the temple is a symbol of national consciousness and the ceremony to unveil the idol of Ram Lalla is also the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of human values and highest ideals.

The Ram temple would be witness to the India’s rise as a developed nation and the country would reach the top, he said.

Addressing the gathering after Pran Pratishtha, Modi said, “Ram is the faith of India, Ram is the foundation of India, Ram is the idea of India, Ram is the law of India. Ram is the prestige of India, Ram is the glory of India…Ram is the leader and Ram is the policy. Ram is eternal. When Ram is honoured, its effect does not last for years or centuries, its effect is for thousands of years,” he said.

“For us, this is not only an occasion of victory but also of humility,” he said, adding that the occasion symbolised the arrival of Lord Ram and this would make the future for people brighter than the past.

“What next? This is the question now after the consecration ceremony,” he said.

He said he was feeling that this cycle of time is changing and this generation has been chosen to witness the same.

“We have to lay foundation of India for next 1000 years now,” he said.

He also said people used to say the construction of Ram temple would set the nation on fire. Instead of creating any negativity, the Ram temple was leading to positive energy, he said.