As PM Leads Ram Mandir Event, Here's What Occupies Opposition Leaders

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 'Pran Pratishtha' (consecration) ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, several leaders of the Opposition, including the Congress in the INDIA bloc, opted to refrain from participating. They asserted that it was a "BJP-RSS event" aimed at garnering votes ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Despite invitations extended by the Ram Mandir trust for the grand opening, most Opposition leaders chose to skip the event, with some labeling it a political gathering, while others expressed intentions to visit the temple at a later date.

On the day of the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration, various Opposition leaders engaged in different activities and marked the occasion in their distinct ways.

Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is currently occupied with his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Assam, which commenced from Manipur last week. Although scheduled to visit Batadrava Than today, the birthplace of saint Srimanta Sankardeva, a social reformer of the state, he was not permitted entry by authorities.

Shrine management suggested that Rahul Gandhi could visit Batadrava Than after 3 pm when the Ram Temple consecration ceremony would be over. They anticipated challenges in welcoming him earlier due to the expected heavy footfall in the shrine owing to the Ram Mandir inauguration.

Subsequently, after being denied access to Batadrava Than, Rahul Gandhi initiated a sit-in protest. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that Rahul Gandhi faced obstruction from entering the shrine due to "pressure from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's government."

Mamata Banerjee

Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), has announced plans to organize an interfaith ('Sarba Dharma') rally in Kolkata and throughout West Bengal on the day of the Ram Temple's 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony. Banerjee intends to offer puja at the Kalighat temple in Kolkata before leading the rally, inviting people from all religions to participate. Alleging that the BJP is using the Ram Temple consecration for political gains ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, she mentioned that her party did not send any representative to the event.

Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal, leading the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi, has outlined a series of events across the 70 assembly constituencies to commemorate the Ram Temple's consecration. From 'shobha yatras' to community kitchens and 'Sundar Kand' recitals, the AAP has organized various activities. Kejriwal attended the Ramlila event in Delhi and expressed his plan to visit the Ram Mandir with his family after the consecration ceremony, as he did not receive a formal invitation.

Uddhav Thackeray

Uddhav Thackeray, former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, will offer prayers at the Kalaram Temple in Nashik and perform a 'maha aarti' on the banks of the river Godavari. Thackeray's decision not to attend the Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony is noteworthy, given his party's historical support for the Ram temple movement and the current political challenges to his 'Hindutva identity'.

Opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav and Sharad Pawar, have expressed plans to visit the temple in Ayodhya at a later date. While Yadav will pay tribute to socialist leader Janeshwar Mishra, Pawar echoed similar sentiments about visiting the temple with his family after the 'Pran Pratishtha' event.