Labour MP Kisses Up to Indian PM Modi over Temple

Government officials in Mauritius have reportedly been left astounded when the Labour MP Mahend Gungapersad decided to brown-nose the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

According to several Indian media, Gungapersad, said to be currently in India, is reported to have stated that only Modi had the power to bring the controversy-ridden Ram Temple to limelight.

“I can honestly say that only Modi could have brought Ayodhya back to the limelight, as he has done it. And the way the mandir is being built and has been built, we are proud of Modi ji for what you did”, he was cited as saying.

Further calling PM Modi a “charismatic leader”, he said that he is a leader who’s unique in his own way and has transformed India, the destiny of India, and the image of India.

“You can’t imagine how proud I feel, like most of you and most Mauritians of the Hindu faith are very happy and proud that today Ramji has his mandir (temple) at the place where he was born,” he said.

“I have no doubt that under his tenure, India has a very bright future as it is today. I think, well, there has been a change in the way people look at India. And thanks to Modi ji, many countries want to befriend India. They want to have very close ties with India,” he emphasised.

Highlighting the India-Mauritius relationship, Gungapersad said that the relationship is being further strengthened.

“We Mauritians have always entertained a very good relationship with India and under Modi’s tenure, this relationship is being further strengthened, and I’m thankful to Shri Narendra Modi for that,” he added.

As per reports, the consecration ceremony will be held over seven days, starting on January 16.

In government political circles, Gungapersad’s move has caught everyone off guard since Modi is believed to be closer to Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth (also the leader of the MSM ruling party).

“Why would Gungapersad go all the way to India just to shower compliments on Modi? Is he trying to score some political points or what?,” a Mauritian MP told NewsMoris.

According to him, it seems there might be something more to this than just a friendly visit. 

However, according to observers, it is time to “keep an eye on Gungapersad and see what else he has up his sleeve.”

About the Ayodhya Case

The dispute is focused on a plot of land in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, which is regarded among the Hindus to be the birthplace of the Hindu deity Ram.

According to some beliefs, it was originally the site of a Hindu temple that was demolished to construct a mosque known as Babri Masjid. For their part, Muslims claim that the land was titled to them and Mir Baqi built the mosque on it in 1528 on orders of the first Mughal emperor, Babur.

Both Hindu and Muslim sides claimed ownership of the site since 1949. On December 6, 1992, Hindu activists demolished the Babri masjid, an action that triggered communal riots all over India, killing at least 2,000 people.

On November 9, 2019, a Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi unanimously ruled that the disputed land be given to the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas for the construction of a temple, and the Muslim side be compensated with five acres of land at a prominent site in Ayodhya to build a mosque.

In February 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in the Lok Sabha that the government had given its approval to the proposal for “Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra” trust to take care of the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya and other related issues.

With inputs from ANI News, Business Standard