Ram Mandir Ceremony Sees Congress Leaders, Despite Party’s Invitation Rejection

Congress leadership declines the invite

The Congress party’s top brass has decided to stay away from the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on 22 January, calling it a “political event” orchestrated by the BJP and the RSS. The party president Mallikarjun Kharge, his predecessor Sonia Gandhi, and Lok Sabha floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have “respectfully” declined the invitation sent by the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is overseeing the construction of the temple.

In a statement issued on 12 January, the Congress said that it respects the sentiments of millions of devotees who have waited for decades for the temple, but it also believes that religion is a personal matter and should not be exploited for political gains. The party accused the BJP and the RSS of making a “political project” of the temple and using it to polarise the society and divert attention from the real issues facing the country.

Congress ministers and members observe the ceremony

However, not all Congress leaders share the same view as their leadership. Many Congress ministers, MPs, MLAs and functionaries have expressed their willingness to participate in or celebrate the ceremony, which marks the installation of the idol of Lord Ram in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

Some prominent Congress leaders who have decided to attend or observe the ceremony are:

• Karnataka endowment minister Ramalinga Reddy, who has ordered special prayers at all 34,000 government-run temples in the state on 22 January.
• Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai, who led a large delegation to Ayodhya on 15 January and took a holy dip in the Saryu river amid chants of “Siyavar Ramchandra Ki Jai”.
• Haryana Congress MP Deepender Hooda, who also visited Ayodhya on 15 January and said that he respects the sentiments of crores of Hindus who have waited for this day.
• Rajasthan Congress MLA Pratap Singh Khachariyawas, who said that he will perform a puja at his home on 22 January and distribute prasad among his constituents.
• Madhya Pradesh Congress MLA Arif Masood, who said that he will offer namaz at a mosque near his residence on 22 January and pray for peace and harmony in the country.

These Congress leaders have said that they are not defying their party’s stand, but rather expressing their personal faith and devotion to Lord Ram. They have also said that they do not see any contradiction between being a Congress member and a Ram bhakt, and that they do not agree with the BJP’s claim that only they have the right to worship Lord Ram.

BJP slams Congress for hypocrisy

The BJP has seized the opportunity to attack the Congress for its “hypocrisy” and “double standards” on the Ram temple issue. The party has said that the Congress leadership is trying to appease its minority vote bank by boycotting the ceremony, while its lower-rung leaders are trying to woo the majority community by attending or celebrating it.

The BJP has also reminded the Congress of its role in delaying the resolution of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute, which was finally settled by the Supreme Court in 2019 in favour of building a temple at the site. The BJP has accused the Congress of creating hurdles in the construction of the temple by filing petitions and raising objections in various courts.

The BJP has said that the Congress has no moral right to comment on or criticise the ceremony, which is a historic and auspicious occasion for crores of Hindus across the world. The BJP has also said that the ceremony is not a political event, but a cultural and spiritual one, which reflects India’s rich heritage and diversity.