A view during the opening of the grand temple of the Hindu god Lord Ram in Ayodhya, India, January 22, 2024. PHOTO: REUTERSThe Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — a 57-member bloc of Muslim countries — on Tuesday denounced the construction and inauguration of the “Ram Temple” built on the site of the five-century-old Babri Masjid in India’s Ayodhya. In a statement issued on social media platform X on Tuesday, the OIC expressed “grave worry” over the construction and inauguration of the temple at the site of the razed Babri Masjid. But for Modi’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the opening of the Ram Mandir was a landmark moment in a decades-long campaign to align the country’s governance with its majority faith. Pakistan also urged the Indian government to ensure the safety and security of religious minorities, including Muslims and their holy places.

Source: The Express Tribune January 24, 2024 05:48 UTC