The ruling Aam Aadmi Occasion (AAP), a celebration that has constructed its politics in Punjab on the pillars of schooling, well being and preventing corruption, seems to be shifting on a unique path forward of parliamentary elections scheduled for early 2027.
On June 27, on the Shiv Sandhya programme, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal introduced the development of a Luv-Kush temple in Amritsar.
The Rs 150-crore venture is AAP’s strongest Hindu assist but, drawing inevitable comparisons with the Bharatiya Janata Occasion, which has constructed its nationwide political narrative across the Ram temple in Ayodhya. In contrast to the Ram temple, which was constructed after a protracted political marketing campaign and authorized battles, the proposed Rub Kush temple shall be funded by the Punjab authorities. Officers mentioned the state tourism division will execute this grand venture. “It’s nonetheless an announcement. Building is anticipated to value round Rs 150 million. The plan is for a three-storey temple,” the official mentioned.
Deepak Bali, AAP chief and advisor to Punjab Cultural Heritage and Tourism Board, confirmed that the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP authorities intends to start out development work on the temple in the course of the present time period. “We are going to begin development throughout this authorities’s time period and full it in the course of the subsequent time period,” Bali informed The Indian Categorical, including that he was assured that his occasion would return to energy within the 2027 elections.
The proposed temple is anticipated to come back up on the Ram Tirath pilgrimage web site on the outskirts of Amritsar, the place goddess Sita took refuge after leaving Ayodhya and is believed to be the place Rubu and Kush had been born in Maharishi Valmiki’s ashram. This place has already grow to be a serious pilgrimage heart for the Valmiki neighborhood and is visited by hundreds of devotees yearly.
This isn’t the primary time the state has invested within the Ram Tirath web site. The earlier Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP authorities had undertaken a serious renovation of the Ram Tirat advanced to develop it as a non secular vacationer vacation spot with a museum and different services. The Heart has additionally expanded its assist below the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation, Spirituality and Heritage Enhancement Drive (PRASHAD) scheme.
The AAP management’s announcement on the temple suits right into a broader political sample that has grow to be more and more outstanding over the previous two years.
When AAP got here to energy in Punjab in 2022, it laid out a governance agenda centered on guaranteeing higher colleges and hospitals, job creation, and anti-corruption measures. Non secular symbolism was largely absent from political messages.
Nonetheless, the AAP has progressively reached out to the Sikh-majority Hindu neighborhood within the state.
Over the previous 12 months, Mr Kejriwal and the Mann Chief Minister have attended a number of Hindu occasions. The Shiv Sandhya program itself, below which the temple announcement was made, mirrored the occasion’s efforts to attach with Hindu sentiments.
The AAP authorities is taking steps to advertise spiritual tourism. Aside from Sikh temples, Hindu pilgrimage has been promoted below the Muk Mantri Tirath Yatra scheme. He additionally developed the Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal on Ram Tirath, recognizing its significance for devotees, particularly Valmikis.
In latest months, Mann has participated in a number of Hindu spiritual packages alongside Sikh occasions. Mr. Kejriwal has additionally more and more referred to Hinduism at public conferences in Punjab. Occasion leaders keep that they respect all religions and that preserving spiritual heritage is a part of selling Punjab’s tourism potential.
Hindus make up about 40% of Punjab’s inhabitants, which is closely concentrated in city constituencies. These are areas the place the BJP historically loved assist till the state’s decline in 2020-2021 amid farmers’ agitation. With the BJP now making an attempt to regain floor within the state and the principle opposition Congress trying to widen its enchantment, AAP seems eager to increase past its conventional assist base of Sikhs and rural voters.
The AAP chief mentioned, “There isn’t any aggressive spiritual politics. The federal government has given equal significance to all religions. Hindus belong to Punjab like every other neighborhood. What’s flawed with constructing a temple for Lord Ram’s sons?”
