January 11, 2024In a notable decision, the Congress party has chosen to abstain from attending the consecration ceremony of the Ram idol in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, conveyed their decision in a letter, terming the grand event as an “RSS/BJP event.”
The leaders had received invitations to participate in the ceremony, but in a statement posted on the party’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) handle, Congress expressed reservations about the political connotations associated with the event.
“Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. 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,” the Congress statement asserted.
The party acknowledged the significance of Lord Ram and the sentiments of millions, citing the 2019 Supreme Court judgment. However, they emphasized that the decision to decline the invitation was based on their perception of the event being aligned with the political agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) responded to Congress’s decision, stating that if the party chooses not to attend the Ram Lalla’s event, it is their prerogative. VHP added that the invitation had been extended, and if Congress opted against attendance, it was acceptable.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai expressed his intent to visit Ayodhya for Ram Lalla darshan and a holy bath in the Saryu river on January 15, marking the occasion of Makar Sankranti. However, he clarified that he had not received an invitation to the consecration ceremony.
Preparations for the Ram temple’s inauguration on January 22 are in full swing, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and over 6,000 attendees expected at the ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony. The first phase of the temple’s construction is nearing completion, and numerous gifts from various parts of the country and abroad are pouring in for Lord Ram.
While Congress’s decision adds a political dimension to the upcoming event, the focus remains on the ceremony that holds immense cultural and religious significance for millions of Indians.
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