Punaura Dham to Become Global Pilgrimage Hub as ₹882 Cr Mata Janaki Temple Project Takes Off
Sitamarhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the grand Mata Janaki Temple at Punaura Dham on Friday, alongside Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. The ₹882 crore project aims to transform Mata Sita’s birthplace into a global spiritual and tourism destination, modeled on Ayodhya’s development.
Calling the initiative a historic step, Shah said the temple will place Sitamarhi prominently on the world’s religious map.
At a public rally later, Shah launched a sharp attack on Congress and RJD, accusing them of shielding Bangladeshi infiltrators by opposing the Special Summary Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. “Those not born in India have no right to vote. Rahul Gandhi carries the Constitution but has clearly not read it,” he quipped.
Shah pointed out that SIR isn’t new and had started under Jawaharlal Nehru’s regime, with the last revision done in 2003. He alleged that Rahul was protesting the revision out of fear of defeat in Bihar’s upcoming elections.
On national security, Shah referenced ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that under PM Modi, India responds to terror with force. “Gone are the days of bombings and silence—today we reply with surgical and airstrikes,” he declared.
Shah also took aim at Tejashwi Yadav, asking him to question his parents, Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, about what development was done during their regime. “They promoted hooliganism, not progress,” he said.
He concluded by expressing confidence in NDA’s return to power in Bihar with a clear majority.
