Fiji’s Indian-Origin Deputy PM Becomes 1st Foreign Leader to Visit Ayodhya Ram Temple

Ayodhya: Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister, Biman Prasad, who is of Indian origin, became the first foreign leader to visit the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya.

Prasad was accompanied by a delegation representing the Indians of Fiji. The Fijian group arrived at Maharshi Valmiki Airport in Ayodhya on Thursday and visited the Ram temple.

During his interaction with the media in Ayodhya, Deputy PM Prasad described the deep connection of Fijian citizens of Indian origin with their roots.

Indians were taken to Fiji during British colonial rule, and they carried with them the teachings of the ‘Bhagavad Gita’ and the ‘Ramayana’, said Prasad. This leads to a strong cultural identity for the community. He also added that Fijians were too much interested about the recent ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya.

Regarding his visit to Ayodhya, Deputy Prime Minister Prasad said that the visit would strengthen ties between India and Fiji.

According to him, the Fijians of Indian origin have a special attraction towards Ayodhya as they mostly hail from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Fiji arrived in New Delhi on Sunday night, for a week-long visit to India.