'RSS/BJP Event': Congress Declines Ram Temple Inauguration Invitation

The Congress, including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, will not be attending the Ram Mandir inauguration on January 22. The statement by the grand old party stated on Wednesday ending speculations over the Congress's stance on the issue of the Ram Temple event amid contradictory opinions coming from several INDIA bloc partners. The Congress said the consecration event has "clearly" become an RSS/BJP event.

According to the statement released by the Congress, "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." Further, it reads, "The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain." "While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event," stated the press statement.

An invitation to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya on January 22nd, 2024, was received by the Congress President, 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 last month, reported HindustanTimes.

Why Congress won't attend the Ram Mandir event on January 22? The party gives 3 reasons:

• In a statement issued by the party general secretary Jairam Ramesh, it was mentioned that the Ram temple has been made a political project by the RSS/BJP.
• The second reason cited by the Congress is that the temple is not complete.
• The third reason stated is that the inauguration has been brought forward for electoral gain. The party and its leaders, however, abide by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment, as per the party's statement.