Kharge, Sonia 'respectfully decline' Ram temple consecration invite; term it RSS/BJP event

New Delhi: Ending the suspense, Congress on Wednesday announced that president Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Sonia Gandhi and its Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury will not attend the January 22 consecration ceremony of an “incomplete” Ram Temple in Ayodhya, dubbing it an “RSS/BJP event” aimed at reaping “electoral gains”.

The decision, announced through a statement issued by Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh, came almost three weeks after the leaders received invitations from Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and following consultations within on attending the event largely seen as BJP-RSS' realisation of one of the core Hindutva agenda.

The carefully drafted statement said, “Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. 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.”

“While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgement and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event,” it said.

The Congress statement makes it clear that the party views it as the BJP-RSS attempt to woo Hindu voters just before the Lok Sabha elections and questions the consecration of an "incomplete temple". "Why should Congress be part of the campaign launch of the BJP on January 22? Our statement is very clear" a senior leader told DH.

However, former Gujarat Congress president and sitting MLA Arjun Modhwadia differed with the party over the decision and posted on 'X', "Lord Ram is a revered God. This is a matter of faith and belief of people. Congress should have stayed away from taking such a political decision."

There have been divergent views within the Congress over the attending the ceremony with leaders like Digvijaya Singh, who had donated money for the temple construction, arguing for top leaders going to Ayodhya. Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh said earlier that he has received the invite and would be going for the event.

When asked, the leader said the minister has not spoken about going on a particular date. "It is a matter of personal faith. Anybody can go to a temple or church or mosque or any other religious place. As a party, we will not interfere in that. But we believe the January 22 event is political," the leader added.

Some I.N.D.I.A allies had been uncomfortable with the Congress not clearing the air on the issue. Earlier, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury had announced that he would not be attending the "state-sponsored event" while Trinamool Congress said its chief Mamata Banerjee is unlikely to attend.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh and Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut among others also linked the event to BJP politics. AAP sources said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal received a letter a few days ago saying he should block his dates and that a formal invite would follow but no subsequent formal invite has come.