Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, his predecessor Sonia Gandhi, and the Leader of the Party in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, on Wednesday, “respectfully declined” the invitation to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. They accused the BJP and the RSS of turning it into a “political project” for electoral gain.
The decision of these top leaders was announced by Congress chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh, who also questioned the motives behind the inauguration of the “incomplete” temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS.
Last month, Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Chowdhury received invitations to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22, 2024. The event will also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several celebrities, and eminent personalities from around the world, who have been extended invitations by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend.
“Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. Religion is a personal matter. However, the RSS/BJP have long turned the temple in Ayodhya into a political project. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has obviously been expedited for electoral gain,” Congress stated.
“While respecting the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and acknowledging 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,” said Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary in charge of communications.
The temple trust has also invited 4,000 seers from across the country and 50 guests from foreign countries. The BJP, RSS, and affiliated Hindutva organizations like the Vishva Hindu Parishad have launched a nationwide mass connect program leading up to the ceremony, urging people to visit the holy place after the event.
The BJP has also instructed all its state units to initiate a campaign starting from January 14 to ensure the cleanliness of temples and their surroundings. They are encouraging people to join the event on January 22 by offering prayers at temples in their respective neighborhoods.
The party has directed its state units to ‘assist’ individuals who wish to visit the Ram temple after the consecration ceremony.
On Monday, Himachal Pradesh minister and Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh announced that he will attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Public Works Department minister, who is the son of former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and state party chief Pratibha Singh, also expressed gratitude to the RSS and the Vishva Hindu Parishad for inviting him to participate in Ram Lalla’s ‘pran partishtha’ ceremony.
Additionally, approximately 100 Congress office-bearers from Uttar Pradesh, including the party’s state unit chief Ajay Rai and state in-charge Avinash Pande, are scheduled to visit Ayodhya on January 15, coinciding with Makar Sankranti. During their visit to the holy city, the Congress leaders plan to take a dip in the Saryu River, visit the Ram temple, and Hanumangarhi temple. Other senior Congress leaders such as Pramod Tiwari and P L Punia are also slated to visit Ayodhya. Congress sources revealed that around 100 Congress office bearers are expected to participate in various events planned for the consecration ceremony.
Former J and K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah refused to comment on the consecration of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, saying he does not want to indulge in politics on the issue.
“I will not comment on the Ram Mandir. This is neither the first inauguration nor the last. We have seen inaugurations in the past as well. If you want to bring politics into it, it is up to you, I am not indulging in politics over the issue,” Abdullah who heads the National Conference party said.
Asked if he would attend the consecration ceremony of the temple if he gets an invitation, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said he was sure he would not be invited. “Why are you asking me whether I will go or not? Who goes uninvited? I know I won’t be invited. Those who were to be invited, they have already got an invitation. The industrialists, cricketers, film stars and others. Everyone knows their names. Have you seen my name in the list? No. When they do not have an intention to invite me, why should we go into ifs and buts?” he said.