Veteran BJP Leader LK Advani To Skip Ram Mandir Inauguration Due To Cold Weather

Veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, a key figure in the Ram Mandir movement in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, will not be attending the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony today due to the extremely cold weather. There were doubts about the 96-year-old’s attendance, and the Ram Mandir trust had previously stated that Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, his veteran party colleague, were unlikely to attend due to health and age concerns.

The general secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, Champat Rai, explained last month that both leaders were respectfully asked not to come considering their age, and they accepted the request. Despite this, earlier this month, a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader mentioned that Advani would be attending, assuring that all necessary arrangements and medical facilities would be provided for his well-being.

The VHP had extended an invitation to Advani and Joshi in December for the Ram temple opening in Ayodhya. To mark the grand ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla at the Ram Mandir, Ayodhya is decked out with flowers, streetlights, and posters of Lord Ram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lead the rituals for ‘Pran Pratishtha’ in Ayodhya today. Stringent security measures have been arranged, with 13,000 forces, including anti-bomb squads and snipers deployed. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also set up a camp near the Ram Mandir shrine in Ayodhya. Additionally, traffic diversions are in place, and parking spaces have been arranged for over 20,000 vehicles.

The pran pratishtha ceremony, scheduled to commence around 12:20 pm, is anticipated to draw around 7,000 invitees. The attendees include politicians, industrialists, celebrities and sportspersons.

Also Read: Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: Full Schedule of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ Ceremony Today