Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, during the State Level Republic Day function at Chhatrasal Stadium, expressed immense pride and happiness over the grand ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony at the new Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Kejriwal shared his excitement and announced plans for the Delhi government to sponsor the travel of devotees from Delhi to Ayodhya.

“The Pran Pratishtha of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on 22nd January was a matter of immense pride and happiness for everyone across the world,” said Kejriwal, adding, “We will try our best to sponsor the travel of devotees from Delhi to Ayodhya Ji.”

He emphasized the government’s commitment to both religious devotion and national welfare, stating, “On the one hand, while we have to devote ourselves to Lord Ram, on the other hand, with utmost honesty we have to dedicate ourselves to the welfare of our nation. If we tread the path of Lord Ram, no one can stop India from becoming the world’s number 1 country.”

Kejriwal also highlighted the Delhi government’s initiative of conducting free ‘teerth-yatra’ for senior citizens to 12 pilgrimage sites, with Ayodhya being a desired destination. “We will try to take as many people as possible to Ayodhya Ji,” he added.

The Chief Minister’s announcement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony at the new Ram temple in Ayodhya, attended by 11,000 invitees. The event received mixed responses from the opposition alliance, with the Congress, CPI(M), and TMC criticizing the BJP for “politicizing” the event, while AAP, SP, and NCP joined in the nationwide celebrations.

Kejriwal, in a post on a microblogging site, congratulated the public on the “sacred occasion of the installation of Maryada Purushottam Lord Shri Ram in the grand temple.” He expressed his happiness over the consecration of Ram Lalla’s idol and announced plans for monthly Sundarkand recitals in Delhi.