After Digvijaya Singh, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, visited the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya on Ram Navami, seers and religious figures in the temple town expressed varied reactions. Mahant Sitaram Das criticized Singh, alleging that leaders who once doubted Lord Ram’s existence were now trying to associate with the faith. Arya Sant Varun Das Maharaj welcomed Singh’s visit but raised concerns about the shift in his stance, highlighting past opposition to the Ram Mandir movement by some visiting leaders.
Echoing these sentiments, Maharaj Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das questioned Singh’s assertions, reminding of past doubts raised by him regarding Lord Ram’s existence. He emphasized that the public would evaluate the consistency of political leaders. In contrast, former Babri Masjid litigant Iqbal Ansari emphasized the spiritual significance of Ayodhya and Lord Ram, stressing the town’s role in fostering faith across communities during Ram Navami.
The reactions follow Singh’s claim that he never opposed the Ram Temple’s construction and even donated Rs 1.10 lakh towards it during his visit. Singh maintained that his trip was purely religious and devoid of political motives. While Singh’s Ayodhya visit has sparked political discussions, seers in the temple town remain divided between questioning political intentions and acknowledging the transcendence of faith in Lord Ram beyond party affiliations.
