“Doesn’t matter who wants to go or not, I’ll go,” AAP’s MP and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh confirms attendance at Ram Mandir opening despite party stand

In a noteworthy departure from his party’s official stance, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh declared his intent to attend the grand opening ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. Singh affirmed his participation in the ‘Pran Pratistha’ (consecration) ceremony of Lord Ram’s idol, diverging from the opposition parties’ decision to boycott the event, citing concerns of politicization by the BJP.

“It doesn’t matter who wants to go (to attend the ceremony) or not; whether Congress wants to go or not or even others (parties) want to go or not, I will definitely go. This is my stand as an individual who believes in God. If anybody has a problem with me going (to Ram Mandir), they can do whatever they want,” said Harbhajan Singh, popularly known as ‘Bhajji.’

His announcement follows Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s decision not to attend, citing the absence of a formal invite to the ‘Pran Pratistha.’ Kejriwal emphasized that the temple’s construction is a matter of sentiment and devotion and urged for the event to remain apolitical.

Saurabh Bhardwaj, Delhi’s Health Minister and AAP member, criticized the BJP’s handling of invitations for the ceremony, asserting that the Ram temple is a collective heritage for all citizens, and BJP’s authority to dictate attendees should be dismissed.