The Congress party has announced that it will not attend the upcoming inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
The party’s decision is based on its view that the event is a “political project” of the BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Senior party leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, have declined the invitation, stating that the inauguration of the incomplete temple by the BJP and RSS leaders has been brought forward for electoral gain.
Here is the statement of Shri @Jairam_Ramesh, General Secretary (Communications), Indian National Congress. pic.twitter.com/JcKIEk3afy
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 10, 2024
The Congress’s refusal to attend the event is expected to further intensify the political rivalry between the Congress and the BJP ahead of the general election. Several other opposition parties, including the Left and Trinamool Congress, have also decided to skip the event, while the Samajwadi Party remains undecided.
The Congress’s move has drawn strong criticism from the BJP, with some leaders accusing the party of being anti-Hindu and politicizing the issue. The building of the Ram Temple has been a central aspect of the BJP’s political agenda, and the upcoming inauguration is anticipated to be a significant and high-profile event, with the presence of various political, industrial, and cultural figures. The Congress’s decision is likely to have political repercussions as the event approaches