New Delhi: Shri Jairam Ramesh, General Secretary (Communications) of the Indian National Congress, conveyed the decision of Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, and the Leader of the Congress Party in the Lok Sabha, Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, to decline the invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya on January 22nd, 2024.
Lord Ram, a revered figure in India, holds significant importance in the hearts of millions. Ramesh emphasized that religion is a personal matter. However, he raised concerns about the political undertones associated with the temple project in Ayodhya by the RSS/BJP.
Ramesh asserted that the hasty inauguration of the incomplete temple by BJP and RSS leaders appears to be a strategic move for electoral gain. While respecting the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and acknowledging the sentiments of those who hold Lord Ram in high regard, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi, and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have chosen not to participate in what they perceive as an event driven by political motives rather than religious significance.
