Sharad Pawar: Won't attend bhoomi poojan of Ram Mandir even if I get invited

Preparations for bhoomi poojan program for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5 are in full swing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to be a part of the event.

Construction of the temple in Ayodhya will start after the stone-laying ceremony. Apart from the Prime Minister, several chief ministers, ministers from the Union Cabinet, states and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat are expected to participate.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had took a jibe at PM Modi and said that people should focus on controlling the spread of the novel Coronavirus instead of prioritising Bhoomi Pujan.

During his visit to Solapur Pawar had said, "You have to decide what to focus on. We hold the belief that Coronavirus should be eliminated with utmost priority but some people think that building Ram Temple will eradicate Coronavirus."

Regarding this Pawar has clarified that there is no dispute about Ram Mandir, the Supreme Court of India has handed over the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri masjid land to the Hindu parties, making way for Hindu devotees to have a grand Ram Mandir at the birthplace of Lord Ram. However, he said that he is not planning to attend the bhumi pujan program and even if he is invited, he won't go, because the current  Coronavirus situation in the state is serious. He was speaking in an interview with CNN News 18.