@aljazeeraenglish: #Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened a controversial #Hindu temple, delivering on a crucial Hindu nationalist pledge that he hopes will catapult the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a record third successive term in upcoming general elections. Built at an estimated cost of $217m and spread over nearly 3 hectares (7.4 acres), the temple lies atop the debris of the 16th-century #Babri mosque, which was razed to the ground in 1992 by Hindu mobs, who believed it was built on temple ruins marking the birthplace of Lord #Ram. The #BJP and other Hindu nationalist groups have portrayed the temple as central to their vision of reclaiming Hindu pride, which they say has been overshadowed by centuries of Mughal rule and #British colonialism. Analysts and critics see the ceremony as the start of the election campaign for #Modi, an avowed Hindu nationalist and one of India’s most consequential leaders who has sought to transform the country from a secular democracy into a distinctly Hindu state in his nearly 10 years in power. #india #narendramodi #ayodhya #ramtemple

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Monday 22 January 2024 13:04:18 GMT