In a recent statement, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh fiercely defended the party's decision to decline the invitation for the Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya earlier this year, labelling it as a "political" event orchestrated for a "political person."
The event, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the rituals at the grand Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya, has sparked debate and criticism from various political quarters.
Ramesh, in a recent interview, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in the "politicisation of religion," alleging that they view religion through a commercial lens while portraying themselves as mere traders of Ram.
In contrast, he emphasised that members of the Congress are devout worshippers of Lord Ram. Ramesh further asserted that the BJP's actions reduce both religion and politics, criticising their approach as detrimental to the integrity of both spheres.
The statement comes in response to Prime Minister Modi's remarks during a Lok Sabha election rally in Chhattisgarh, where he lambasted the Congress for declining the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha event and alleged that the party took punitive action against dissenting voices.
However, Ramesh reiterated the Congress's stance, highlighting that the decision to decline the invitation was made due to the perception that the event was predominantly an RSS/BJP affair.
The Pran Pratishtha ceremony, held on January 22, 2022, witnessed the BJP's grand celebration of the culmination of the long-standing dream of constructing a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. Despite the significance of the occasion, the Congress opted to abstain from participating, citing reservations about the event's political undertones.
Addressing a public gathering in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, PM Modi underscored the historical significance of the moment, emphasising that the dream of a grand Ram temple had finally been realised after centuries.
He expressed optimism that the upcoming Ram Navami celebrations would be particularly joyous, with Lord Ram's blessings emanating from the newly constructed temple, symbolising the fulfilment of a cherished aspiration for millions of devotees.
As the political discourse surrounding the Ayodhya temple inauguration continues to unfold, contrasting viewpoints from leaders like Jairam Ramesh and Narendra Modi underscore the deep-seated ideological divisions within the Indian political landscape.
While the BJP champions the temple's construction as a monumental achievement, the Congress remains critical of what it perceives as the BJP's exploitation of religious sentiment for political gain.
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