In a surprising move, key leaders of the Indian National Congress, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, have decided to skip the highly anticipated ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration) ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22.
The decision was announced through a statement by Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary (Communications), who highlighted the party’s view that the worship of Lord Ram is a personal matter for millions of people in the country. However, Ramesh criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for turning the temple construction into a political project. The statement accused the Centre of advancing the inauguration of the incomplete temple for electoral gains.
While expressing adherence to the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and acknowledging the sentiments of Lord Ram’s devotees, Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury respectfully declined the invitation, categorizing the event as a political.
In response to Congress’ decision, the BJP labeled the Grand Old Party as “Anti-Ram” and suggested that Congress was motivated by jealousy towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) took a more neutral stance, emphasizing that Lord Ram belongs to everyone and that attending the event is a personal choice for each party. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) echoed a similar sentiment, referring to Congress’ decision as a “political gimmick” orchestrated by the BJP.
As the political landscape continues to evolve around the consecration of the Ram Temple, the absence of key Congress leaders from the event adds an intriguing dimension to the unfolding narrative.
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