India’s PM Modi Inaugurates Hindu Temple at Ayodhya Ram Mandir, Site of Demolished Babri Mosque

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a new temple dedicated to the Hindu god Ram in the city of Ayodhya. The temple replaces a 16th-century mosque that was destroyed by Hindu mobs in 1992, leading to riots that resulted in nearly 2,000 deaths. The event was attended by top film stars and cricketers, but was boycotted by some Hindu seers and most of the opposition, who accused Mr. Modi of using the event for political gain. The temple, which cost $217m (£170m) to build, is part of a city revamp estimated to cost more than $3bn. The event was televised live and showed Mr. Modi performing religious rituals inside the temple. The temple’s construction fulfils a long-standing pledge by Hindu nationalists and is seen as a significant achievement for the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).