Congress declared today that it won't be part of the big Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration, labeling it a "political project" by BJP and RSS. Key Congress leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who got invitations, have declined.
"Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain," read a statement from senior party leader Jairam Ramesh.
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BJP Reacts to Congress Move
Union Minister Smriti Irani
“Under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Congress, INDIA Alliance has insulted Sanatan Dharma again and again. Now, the declining of the invitation to the 'pranpratishtha' by leaders of the INDIA Alliance reflects their anti-Sanatan mindset.”
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
"They are stuck in their rhetoric...Why take them seriously? They will regret it if they don't go."
Union Minister Anurag Thakur
"Today, when Congress has boycotted the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, it can be clearly seen that the people of India will also boycott them in the coming future."
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari
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"How will they go for the darshan? Isn't it true that Congress fielded senior advocates to ensure that the Ram Temple is not constructed there? They called Lord Ram, a fictional character.”
BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli
“Now that a temple has come up there, the very fact that they are saying that they won't be there is part of what they have always believed - that they didn't want a temple there and saying that this is an event of the BJP or the RSS is an excuse.”
Assam CM & BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma
"In my view, they should not have been invited at all. But VHP gave them a golden opportunity to repair some of their sins. But they missed the bus. I feel pity and sad for them."
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav
"This is very unfortunate. First, Congress created obstacles in (the construction) of Ram Temple. Now, they are insulting the 'pranpratishtha' ceremony. In a way it has hurt the sentiments of the majority of the population of the country. Congress should apologise."
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai
"This is wrong. They show double standards. They sometimes question the existence of Lord Ram and become 'Chunavi Sanatani' at other times."
Karnataka BJP leader R Ashok
"It's not right. Everyone including Hindus, Muslims & Christians everyone contributed to Ram temple. I collected more than Rs 1 crore from the Muslim community who contributed voluntarily. But Congress people are discouraging, called Lord Ram an "imaginary figure". What can we expect from the people of Congress?"
