Matter of 'pride' that PM will lay foundation stone of Ram Temple: Goa CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that it is a "matter of pride" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

"It is a matter of pride that PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. It was a dream of devotees of Lord Ram and it's being fulfilled now. Today VHP gave me the soil from Rudreshwar Temple for construction of the Temple. It will be sent to Ayodhya," Sawant told .

"The people from Goa also contributed by offering Kar Seva during the movement for Ram temple, so it is also a huge moment for all the people of Goa. I congratulate to all the Ram worshippers of the state and the country," he added.

Earlier in the day, Sawant offered prayers at the Rudreshwar Temple.

"It is a moment of proud privilege that the sacred soil from the auspicious Rudreshwar Temple - Harvalem, Sankhali Goa, will be used in the foundation of the #RamMandir at Ayodhya! I offered my prayers at the Rudreshwar Temple today. Jai Shree Ram," he tweeted.

Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, according to Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust.

The construction of Ram temple will begin in Ayodhya after the ceremony to lay the foundation stone (bhoomi poojan) in which chief ministers of many states, ministers from the union cabinet and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat are also likely to participate.

The Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, set up in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict, held its second meeting earlier this month.

In March this year, the 'Ram Lalla' idol was shifted to a temporary structure.The apex court, on November 9 last year, had directed the central government to hand over the site at Ayodhya for the construction of a Ram temple.

( With inputs from ANI )