Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 1, 2024: Amit Shah

Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on 1 January 2024, Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Thursday.

Addressing a Jan Vishwas Yatra in poll-bound Tripura, Shah said the Congress had been attacking the BJP over the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which had been on the saffron party's manifesto for decades.

He said in 2019, then Congress chief Rahul Gandhi repeatedly said the BJP would never tell the date when the temple will be constructed. "So, listen Rahul Gandhi, the grand Ram Temple will be ready by 1 January 2024," Shah said.    

The Home Minister accused the Congress of hindering the construction of the Ram Temple in courts. He said after the Supreme Court verdict came, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began the construction of the temple. 

The apex court on 9 November 2019 ruled in favour of Hindus, ending the century-old dispute over the temple site.  

On 5 August 2020, Prime Minister Modi performed the 'bhoomi pujan' of the temple in the presence of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and other noted priests.

Last month, the Shri Ram Mandir Construction Committee, which is overseeing the ongoing construction, inspected the work and discussed issues related to the outer periphery, lower plinth, Makrana marble for flooring, and pilgrim facilitation centre.