Chief Priest Of Ram Temple Sent To Quarantine After Assistant Tested Covid-19 Positive; Not To Attend Bhoomi Pujan

Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, has been sent to home quarantine after his assistant Pradeep Das tested positive for Covid-19 three days back.

The development has come days ahead of the much-awaited bhoomi pujan ceremony on 5 August, for the construction of Ram mandir.

Acharya Satyendra Das, said, “As one of my assistants, Pradeep Das, tested Covid positive on July 30, the trust has asked me not to enter Ram temple premises for three days. I will not be performing bhoomi pujan as other priests have been engaged for that ceremony.”

The Trust members declined to comment on the development.

Earlier on 30 July, Pradeep Das and at least 15 police personnel deployed at the temple site had tested positive for novel coronavirus.

Given the threat of spread of the COVID-19 disease, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust has already appealed to Ram bhakts (devotees of Lord Ram) and saints, who wished to travel to Ayodhya for the ceremony, to not do so. The trust has assured the bhakts that a 'Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Nirman Yajna' will be organised at the right time in future for them to attend.

The ceremony is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister (CM) Yogi Adityanath among other religious and political leaders.

(With inputs from IANS)