New Delhi, Dec 27 (Abhinav Gupta / Pratyush Ranjan, PTI Fact Check): A Facebook user shared a post claiming Ayodhya's Ram Mandir will be inaugurated on January 1, 2023. The PTI Fact Check Desk found in its investigation that the viral post is false. The temple trust confirmed to the Desk that the construction works would be completed next year.  The claim in the post shared on Facebook was false.     

Claim

While scanning social media platforms, the Desk came across a viral post on Facebook claiming that the Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 1, 2023. 

The Facebook post read: "खुश खबरी 1 जनवरी 2023 को राम मंदिर का उद्घाटन होगा, जानकर जिनको खुशी हुई तो #जयश्रीराम" (Good news, Ram Mandir to be inaugurated on 1 January, 2023, #JaiShriRam  if you like it). 

Here are the link and the archive link to the post. 

Below is the screenshot of the viral post-

Investigation

The Desk started its investigation with a Google search to check the Ram Temple's inauguration date and found a PTI report published by The Economic Times on Dec 18 this year. 

The report headline read: "After construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, tourism will increase by ten times: Yogi Adityanath."

The report quoted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath saying that the temple construction will conclude in 2024. 

"When the construction and development work of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is completed in 2024, tourism to the city will increase by ten times," the report quoted the CM as saying. 

Here is the link to the Economic Times report. 

Below is the screenshot of the report-

The Desk next came to cross a news report by Mint titled: "Ayodhya Ram temple: Construction underway for sanctum sanctorum | PICS." 

The report carried the latest photos of the temple construction, which indicate that it is nowhere near completion by December 31, 2022. 

Here is the link to the report: 

Below is the screenshot of the report: 

In the next part of the investigation, the Desk reached out to the Ram Mandi Temple Trust. 

While talking to the Desk, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai vehemently refuted the claim in social media on Ram Temple's inauguration date. 

"This is completely false. We should not heed any such claim by any random person," Rai told the PTI Fact Check desk. 

Claim

Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 1, 2023. 

Fact

The construction works of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will complete in 2024.

Conclusion

The Facebook post claimed that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 1, 2023. The PTI Fact Check Desk found in its investigation that the temple construction work will likely conclude in 2024. The post shared on Facebook was false.   

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