'Move Out Where People Can Turn Blind Eye': Mani Shankar Aiyar, Daughter Told To Vacate Delhi Home After Ram Temple Post

Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and his daughter Suranya Aiyar have been asked to vacate their home in Delhi’s Jangpura by the Resident’s Welfare Association (RWA) over a social media post against the Ayodhya Ram Mandir inauguration event on January 22.

The RWA, in its notice, urged the father-daughter duo not to indulge in rants that might disturb the peace or hurt the religious sentiments of other residents.

“We do not appreciate a resident rant which may disturb the peace in the colony or hurt the religious sentiments of the residents,” read the notice.

“In case you think what you have done in protesting against the consecration of Ram mandir at Ayodhya, we would suggest you to kindly move out to another colony where people can turn blind eye to such hatred,” it added.

Suranya Aiyar observed a three-day fast from January 20 to 23 in protest against the temple’s consecration, expressing solidarity with Muslims and denouncing what she described as acts done in the name of Hinduism and nationalism. She wrote about the fast in a Facebook post on January 20.

The RWA cited her post and said, “What Ms Aiyar said through social media was unbecoming of an educated person, who should have understood that the Ram Mandir was being built after 500 years and that too after 5-0 Supreme Court verdict.”

“You might take the cover of freedom of speech but please remember as per the Supreme Court of India freedom of speech cannot be absolute,” it added.

The RWA urged Mani Shankar Aiyar to condemn his daughter’s post or move out of the house.

“You may do whatever in politics for the good of your country, but please remember whatever you say and your actions count thus bringing good or bad name to the colony. Therefore, you are requested to please refrain from making such posts/comments,” the notice said.

However, Suranya Aiyar has released a statement responding to the developments and claimed that she never lived in the housing society that issued the notice.

The consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was a grand affair, celebrated by millions of Hindus not just in India, but worldwide. The temple has been built on a 2.67-acre site inside a 70-acre complex and only its first phase is ready. The second and final phase is expected to be completed by December 2025.

The temple, which opened to the public on January 23 following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, has attracted an estimated 18.75 lakh devotees from across the country. The first day alone had a staggering 5 lakh visitors, and the numbers have remained consistently high, with daily visits averaging more than 2 lakh.