Congress Declines Invite to Ayodhya Ram Mandir's Inauguration, Dubs It 'RSS/BJP' Event

Congress has decided to skip the much-awaited ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration) of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

Calling the consecration a “RSS/BJP” event, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have “respectfully” declined the invitation.

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In a statement by Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary (Communications), Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in the country and the religion is a personal matter.

“But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain. While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event,” it said.

Parties React to Congress’ Decision

Reacting to Congress’ decision, BJP termed the Grand Old Party as “Anti-Ram”. “Congress is jealous of PM Modi, ” BJP added.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Congress is stuck in their rhetoric. “They are stuck in their rhetoric…Why take them seriously? They will regret it if they don’t go,” he said.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spoke to CNN-News18 about Congress’ decision to skip the consecration ceremony and said Lord Ram belongs to everybody not just Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NCP further stated one party not attending the event is their personal choice.

Trinamool Congress also said it is a party’s individual decision to not attend the event before calling it a “political gimmick” by the BJP. Several opposition parties including the TMC have indicated they will not be attending the event as well.

On the other hand, VHP chief Alok Kumar earlier said that the VHP functionary had approached the SP chief Akhilesh Yadav with the invite for the ceremony, however, he reportedly said that he wouldn’t accept such an invitation from a “stranger”.

“We had seen his earlier statement that he would come if invited. An invitation has been sent to him. But now he is saying that he would go if Lord Ram him. If he does not come then it will become clear that even Ram does not want him to come,” Kumar said.