Sitamarhi (Bihar) [India], August 8 : Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Friday hailed Home Minister Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for laying the foundation stone for the redevelopment of the Janki Mata temple in Sitamarhi, saying both leaders had "raised the flag of Sanatan."
"CM Nitish Kumar and the country's Home Minister Amit Shah have created history and raised the flag of Sanatan here. Today is a historic day... When we take the name of Ram in Ayodhya, it's not complete without Maa Sita. Lord Ram also saw those sinners for hundreds of years, those who denied his existence..." Singh told ANI.
BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde also expressed happiness over the temple redevelopment project. "When Ram Mandir was built in Ayodhya, we were happy, but we also wondered when Maa Sita Temple would be built. PM Modi, CM Nitish Kumar, and Home Minister Amit Shah have now fulfilled this dream," Tawde told ANI.
Earlier in the day, Amit Shah, along with Nitish Kumar and Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, laid the foundation stone for the temple's redevelopment.
In an X post on Thursday, Shah had called the event an "extremely auspicious and joyous day" for the country, especially for Mithilanchal.
"Tomorrow is an extremely auspicious and joyous day for the entire country, and especially for Mithilanchal, when the foundation stone for the comprehensive development plan of the sacred 'Punaura Dham Temple' and its premises will be laid at the birthplace of Mother Sita in Sitamarhi, Bihar," he wrote.
"Additionally, to enhance connectivity for the devotees visiting here, PM Shri @narendramodi ji has approved the Sitamarhi-Delhi Amrit Bharat Train, which will be inaugurated tomorrow," the post added.
Punaura Dham, also known as Maa Janaki Janmabhoomi Temple, is widely considered to be the birthplace of Goddess Sita, the wife of Ram. Following the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, people associated with the Janaki temple presented gifts for Lord Ram during the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024.
According to Bihar tourism, the site also contains other attractions, like a lake which is believed to help with her pregnancy, and Panth Pakar, linSita's marriage.