Ram Temple Bhumi Pujan: From PM Modi to 135 seers, here's a list of attendees attending the event

Ayodhya in the state of Uttar Pradesh is all set for the groundbreaking foundation laying ceremony for the Ram temple on Wednesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several others, including religious leaders and eminent local citizens in attendance.

PM Narendra Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, Yogi Adityanath and Governor Anandiben Patel will be the notable guests in the time of event.

General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai, has stated that a small ceremony will be held in Ayodhya in line with the coronavirus outbreak.

“If it were normal circumstances, then we would have had all those who have been associated with the movement from the beginning. However, the circumstances are such that very few can come,’’ Rai said.

Here are the names on guest list:

* The trust has corroborated that 135 out of the 175 guests will be religious leaders from different spiritual traditions.

* Other than Hindu seers, the chairperson of the Sunni Waqf board from Lucknow, Jathedars or Sikh priests, and other religious leaders have also been called to be the part of celebration.

* The son of the oldest petitioner in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case a Padma Shri awardee and the chairperson of the UP Sunni Central Waqf Board (UPSCWB) are three Muslim invitees among the 175 guests attending.

* Iqbal Ansari, 69-year-old son of Hashim Ansari who died at the age of 95 in 2016, is the first invitee.

* The second Mohammad Sharif, the 80-year-old who is known in all parts of the state for his work in holding last rites for at least 5,000 unclaimed Hindu and Muslim people.

* Zufar Ahmed Faruqi, the chairperson of the UPSCWB which was the main Muslim party in the title suit is the third person to get invited.

* The trust has also invited Purnima Kothari, the sister of two brothers from Kolkata who were kar sevaks, and lost their lives during police firing in Ayodhya on October 30, 1990, while on a procession to the 2.77-acre site.

* The trust also invited family members of local kar sevaks in Ayodhya who died in the firing.

* Senior BJP leader LK Advani, who is considered by many as the face of the Ram Temple movement in the 90s, and K Parasaran, the lead counsel for the Hindu side in the title suit hearing in the Supreme Court are among those not invited because of their advanced age, which put them at risk of coronavirus infection.

* Senior BJP leader MM Joshi, others stalwarts from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) such as Kalraj Mishra and Kalyan Singh are also unlikely to attend the event.

* BJP leader Uma Bharti has decided to pull away from the event and will visit the site only after everyone leaves citing the safety of PM Modi and other guests.

Also Read: Ahead of Bhumi Pujan, All India Muslim Personal Law board questions Supreme Court verdict