In response to the Congress party's decision to skip the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Uttar Pradesh Congress has announced plans to "expand" its presence in the holy city on January 15, which coincides with Makar Sankranti. Initially, the party had disclosed that around 100 party workers, led by UP Congress in-charge Avinash Pandey and UPCC president Ajay Rai, would visit Ayodhya and offer prayers.
The latest announcement indicates that over 2,000 Congress leaders and workers will now be part of the delegation visiting Ayodhya. Notable leaders, including Avinash Pandey, Ajay Rai, Pramod Tiwari, Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona,’ Nirmal Khatri, P.L. Punia, and other senior members, will join the visit.
The move is seen as an effort to demonstrate the Congress party's presence in Ayodhya ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. The party clarified that the visit is voluntary, and while no formal invitations were extended, word had spread to various district units, resulting in a larger turnout. The Congress aims to express faith in Lord Ram but distance itself from what they view as a BJP-sponsored event, choosing to visit before the ceremony.
However, permission for the visit by over 2,000 Congress workers is pending, and the Ayodhya administration is set to discuss and decide on the matter considering the ongoing preparations for the main event on January 22.
(With Agency Inputs)
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