Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that in view of the increasing coronavirus cases the Bhumi Pujan of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya can be conducted through video-conference.
According to members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Ayodhya on August 5 for the "bhoomi pujan" ceremony to begin the construction of the Ram temple.
"An e-bhoomi pujan can be done. The ground-breaking ceremony can be held through video-conference. This is an event of joy, and lakhs of people would be interested in attending the ceremony. Will we allow the spread of coronavirus?" Thackeray said in an interview published in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Sunday.
"This is not an ordinary temple. Today, we are fighting the coronavirus pandemic and religious gatherings are prohibited. I can go to Ayodhya for the ceremony, but what about lakhs of Ram bhakts. Will you stop them? You can do e-bhoomi pujan through video-conference," he suggested.
Thackeray also recalled when he visited Ayodhya last time, he was stopped from performing 'aarti' at the Saryu river there since the COVID-19 pandemic spread had just started.
"Before that I had seen huge crowds on the river banks. Ram Mandir is a matter of faith. How can you stop people from going there?" he asked.
Thackeray visited Ayodhya in March to commemorate 100 days in office.