BJP’s Appeal to Soren: Declare Jan 22 as ‘Dry Day’ for Ram Temple Consecration in Jharkhand

Background

The Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, is set to be consecrated on January 22, 2024, after a long legal and political battle over the disputed site. The temple is being built by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which was formed by the central government after the Supreme Court’s verdict in November 2019 that cleared the way for the construction of the temple.

BJP’s Demand

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been at the forefront of the Ram temple movement, has urged the Jharkhand government to declare January 22 as a “dry day” in the state, meaning a ban on the sale of liquor and meat on that day. The BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand, Deepak Prakash, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Friday, requesting him to respect the sentiments of crores of Hindus who consider Lord Ram as their ideal and role model. Prakash said that Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Assam have already declared January 22 as a “dry day”, while Goa has announced a public holiday on that day.

Jharkhand Government’s Response

The Jharkhand government, led by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in alliance with the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has not yet responded to the BJP’s demand. The JMM-Congress-RJD coalition came to power in December 2019, defeating the BJP in the assembly elections. The Jharkhand government has been at loggerheads with the BJP on various issues, such as the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the farm laws. The Jharkhand government has also faced criticism from the BJP for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the law and order situation in the state.

Public Opinion

The public opinion on the BJP’s demand for a “dry day” in Jharkhand is divided along political and religious lines. While some Hindu groups and BJP supporters have welcomed the demand, saying that it is a matter of faith and devotion, some Muslim groups and opposition parties have opposed it, saying that it is a violation of secularism and personal freedom. Some social activists and civil society members have also questioned the need for imposing such restrictions on a day when people should celebrate peacefully and harmoniously.