BJP MP Minakshi Lekhi Says Only Those Invited By Lord Ram Will Come To Ayodhya

The consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya next month, featuring Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the key figure, has unsurprisingly evolved into a political matter preceding a Lok Sabha election scheduled in less than four months. While invitations have been extended to religious leaders and actors for the January 22 event, the invitations sent to opposition leaders (and their responses) are grabbing the spotlight.

Brinda Karat, a CPI (M) leader, said her party has decided to skip the newly-built Ram Temple inauguration programme describing it as "politicisation of a religious programme". "No, we will not go. We respect the religious beliefs... but they are connecting a religious programme with politics. "Using religion as a political weapon or to advance a political agenda is not right," CPI (M) leaders said.

Minutes after the CPI (M) leader's remarks about politicising a religious programme, BJP MP Minakshi Lekhi slammed Brinda Karat stating "Invitations were sent to all (but) only those called by Lord Ram will come".

For the saffron front, Ram Temple construction will surely be a major election campaign topic and the party will try to do its best to convert people's support into votes.

Not just the left, other opposition leaders also refused the Ram Temple invitation calling the religious programme a political stunt.

Earlier, Senior lawyer and former Congressman Kapil Sibal said he has lord Ram in his heart and didn't feel the need to attend the programme. He also called the Temple inauguration likely to be a show of strength by the BJP ahead of the general elections slated next year.

"What I say to you is from my heart... because I do not care about these things. If Ram is in my heart, and Ram has guided me on my journey, it means I have done something right," Sibal said.