A contentious debate erupted in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Wednesday, with members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition clashing over the color of the Ram Lalla idol installed in the newly constructed temple in Ayodhya. The heated exchange unfolded during discussions on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, adding a religious dimension to the legislative proceedings.
Congress MLA from Jaspur, Adesh Singh Chauhan, ignited the debate by accusing the BJP of deviating from Hindu scriptures by portraying the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya as “black” instead of “sanwala” (dusky), as described in Hindu scriptures. His remarks triggered a sharp response from parliamentary affairs minister Premchand Aggarwal, who urged Chauhan to refrain from making derogatory comments about Lord Ram and focus on the UCC Bill.
Aggarwal further criticized the Congress, accusing it of denying the existence of Lord Ram altogether. However, the Speaker of the Assembly, Ritu Khanduri, intervened to steer the discussion back to the UCC, reminding Chauhan to stay on topic.
The controversy over the color of the Ram Lalla idol stems from the recent unveiling of the idol during the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the newly constructed temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marked a significant milestone in the construction of the grand temple. The new idol, known as “Balak Ram,” depicts the deity as a five-year-old boy standing upright.
Adorned in Banarasi fabric with a yellow dhoti and a red ‘pataka’ or ‘angavastram,’ the new idol symbolizes a sacred representation of Lord Ram. Additionally, the previous idol of Ram Lalla, previously housed in a makeshift shrine, has been relocated in front of the new idol, now referred to as the ‘Utsav idol.’
The debate in the Uttarakhand Assembly reflects broader discussions and sentiments surrounding religious symbolism and interpretations, particularly in the context of significant cultural and religious events like the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. While the political discourse continues, the unveiling of the new Ram Lalla idol signifies a momentous occasion for devotees and marks a significant chapter in India’s religious landscape.
