'Where Is The Devotion?': Kejriwal Challenges Amit Shah Over Ram Temple Absence

Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday sharpened the Aam Aadmi Party’s attack on the BJP by questioning Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s absence from the Ram temple in Ayodhya since the consecration ceremony. The AAP national convener said Shah had repeatedly invoked Lord Ram and the temple in public speeches, but had not visited the shrine in the 891 days since January 22, 2024.

Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters, Kejriwal framed the issue as a test of political sincerity. He alleged that BJP leaders used Lord Ram for electoral gains, while failing to show personal devotion through a visit to the temple. The remarks are likely to intensify the political contest over religion, faith and governance ahead of future elections.

Kejriwal asks Amit Shah five questions on Ram temple visit

Kejriwal said he was asking five questions to Shah “on behalf of the people of the country”. He asked why the Home Minister had not visited the Ram temple, whether he did not feel like having darshan of Lord Ram, whether he did not wish to go to Ayodhya, whether he did not seek Lord Ram’s blessings, and whether he considered Lord Ram to be God.

The AAP leader claimed that Shah had mentioned Lord Ram and the Ram temple more than 42 times in speeches and interviews since the consecration. He said many of those references were made in an electoral context. Kejriwal argued that there was a contradiction between asking for votes in the name of Ram and not visiting the temple after its inauguration.

The consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya was held on January 22, 2024, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior religious leaders and invited guests. The temple has since remained a major political and cultural reference point, especially for the BJP, which has long associated itself with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

Kejriwal said he had checked public records, online material and media inputs before making the claim. He added that he could not find any public evidence of Shah visiting the Ram temple after the consecration. The BJP had not issued an immediate detailed response to Kejriwal’s remarks at the time of the statement.

AAP targets BJP over faith and politics

Kejriwal’s comments were not limited to Shah’s travel record. He accused BJP leaders of treating Lord Ram as a route to power and money. He also referred to alleged irregularities linked to donations and temple-related funds, though he did not present fresh documentary evidence during the press briefing to support the wider allegations.

The AAP chief said many people who identify with Sanatan Dharma were hurt by what he described as the political use of religious sentiment. He alleged that the BJP had benefited from Lord Ram’s name for decades and had formed governments at the Centre and in several states because of that mobilisation.

His remarks come at a time when AAP is trying to reposition itself in the national political space after setbacks in Delhi and continuing battles with central agencies. The party has increasingly combined welfare politics with religious outreach, especially in Punjab, where it currently runs the government.

Kejriwal also sought to contrast AAP’s approach with that of the BJP. He said AAP was working for Sanatan Dharma through devotional events, free pilgrimage schemes and public welfare programmes. He argued that building schools, hospitals, mohalla clinics and basic services for poor families also reflected religious values in governance.

AAP highlights Punjab schemes and religious outreach

Referring to Punjab, Kejriwal said the AAP government was organising bhajan sandhyas in cities across the state. He said thousands of people were attending these events. He also mentioned free pilgrimage arrangements to destinations such as Khatu Shyam, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura and Vrindavan.

Kejriwal drew a comparison with AAP’s earlier government in Delhi, saying the administration had run free pilgrimage trips for senior citizens to Ayodhya and other religious places. The Delhi government’s pilgrimage scheme had been one of AAP’s key welfare programmes before the party lost power in the national capital.

He also referred to religious and cultural projects in Punjab, including the restoration of the Kali Mata temple in Patiala and plans for a temple linked to Luv-Kush and Mata Janaki in Amritsar. Kejriwal presented these initiatives as proof that AAP was not hostile to religious tradition, an accusation often made by its political rivals.

The BJP, however, has consistently projected the construction of the Ram temple as a historic achievement and a fulfilment of a long-standing promise. The party’s leaders have often argued that the temple represents civilisational justice and national pride. Kejriwal’s latest attack seeks to challenge that ownership by shifting the debate from political credit to personal faith.

The exchange also shows how central the Ram temple remains in Indian politics more than two years after the consecration. For the BJP, it is a symbol of ideological commitment. For AAP, Kejriwal is trying to turn the same issue into a question of sincerity, public service and the difference between religious symbolism and governance.

Kejriwal ended his remarks by urging Shah to visit Ayodhya and offer prayers at the Ram temple. The political impact of the statement will depend on whether the BJP responds directly, ignores the charge, or uses it to attack AAP’s own record on religion and governance.