Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, has respectfully declined the invitation to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. The decision was announced by Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, who accused the BJP and RSS of turning the event into a "political project" for electoral gain. Ramesh questioned the motive behind inaugurating the "incomplete" temple and stated that while Lord Ram is revered by millions, the BJP and RSS have politicized the Ayodhya temple issue.
Ramesh emphasized that the leaders are abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honoring the sentiments of those who revere Lord Ram. However, they are declining the invitation to an event perceived as an RSS/BJP affair.
The consecration ceremony, expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and over 6,000 people, has become a focal point for the BJP, RSS, and Hindutva organizations. The BJP has initiated a nationwide campaign urging people to visit Ayodhya, and the temple trust has invited seers and guests from foreign countries.
While Congress leaders like Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh and around 100 party office-bearers from Uttar Pradesh plan to attend the ceremony, the decision of the top leaders underscores the political sensitivities surrounding the event. The BJP's mass connect program and cleanliness campaigns in temples are part of the lead-up to the consecration ceremony.
(With Agency Inputs)
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