Dream close to my heart being fulfilled: Advani on eve of pujan

NEW DELHI:BJP veteran L K Advani has welcomed the foundation ceremony for a Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying a dream close to his heart was being fulfilled and it was a historic day for all Indians even though the leader will be absent at the function on Wednesday.
“PM Narendra Modi is laying the foundation for construction of Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Shri Ram.It is indeed a historical and emotional day not only for me, but for all Indians. A grand mandir for Shri Ram at Ram Janmabhoomi has been a desire and mission for BJP,” Advani said in a statement.
Advani, a key architect of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement who led a rath yatra for its construction, will be absent from the stage in Ayodhya as he is not on the list of invitees to the function. Sources told TOI on Tuesday that no invitation was extended to Advani. Murli Manohar Joshi, another prominent Ram Janmabhoomi activist, has also been left out.
On Monday, Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Khshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai said invitees were finalised only after being contacted on phone. “We have the Covid-19 situation, that’s why we have kept social distancing in mind. We have called and apologised to many people. Age is a factor too. How will Advaniji (92 years) come at his age? So we have carefully prepared a list around these compulsions,” he said. Only five people will be on the stage on Wednesday — PM Modi, UP governor Anandiben Patel, CM Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Mahant Nritya Gopaldas.
The BJP veteran added, “It is my belief that Shri Ram Mandir will represent India as a strong, prosperous, peaceful and harmonious nation with justice for all and exclusion of none so that we can truly usher in Ram Rajya, the epitome of good governance. May Shri Ram bless India and her people always.”