The inauguration of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya on January 22 has become a political issue ahead of a Lok Sabha election due in less than four months. Invitations have been sent to people across the spectrum, but it is those sent to opposition leaders that have become a point of contention.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury has declined the invitation to attend the consecration ceremony. “This is straightforward politicisation of the religious belief of the people which does not align with the Constitution. Therefore, in these circumstances, I regret not being able to attend the event,” Yechury added.
On Tuesday, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat also underlined her party’s decision to skip the programme that she described as the “politicisation of a religious programme”.
#WATCH | Delhi: CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat says, “Our party will not attend the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya…We respect the religious beliefs but they are connecting a religious programme with politics…This is the politicization of a religious… pic.twitter.com/K7EoNZnhxL
— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2023
“Our party will not attend ‘Pran Pratishtha’. We respect the religious beliefs… but they are connecting a religious programme with politics. Using religion as a political weapon or to advance a political agenda is not right,” Karat told news agency ANI.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)’s national spokesperson Vinod Bansal slammed the CPI(M) over its decision and said, “Those whose name is Sitaram will not go to Ayodhya Dham.”
Taking to X, in a post in Hindi, Bansal said, “There are reports that… The person whose name is Sitaram will not go to Ayodhya Dham!! Political opposition is understandable, but if someone has so much hatred for his own name, he can only be a communist! Whether the hatred is towards Ram or towards one’s name, it has to be told…!!”
ख़बरें हैं कि…जिनका नाम सीताराम, नहीं जाएंगे अयोध्या धाम!!राजनैतिक विरोध तो समझ आता है किंतु अपने नाम से भी इतनी घृणा किसी को हो, वह तो कम्युनिस्ट ही हो सकता है! द्वेष राम से है या स्वयं के नाम से है, बताना तो बनता है…!!
— विनोद बंसल Vinod Bansal (@vinod_bansal) December 26, 2023
Another Left party, the CPI, is also likely to skip the Ram Temple event, sources have said, NDTV reported.
The BJP – for which construction of the temple has been a major campaign issue, and will be again in the run-up to the 2024 general and state polls – hit back at CPI(M) with Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi, saying, “… invitations were sent to all (but) only those called by Lord Ram will come”.
Also Read: ‘Feel very blessed’: PM Modi invited for Ayodhya’s Ram temple inauguration ceremony
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also snubbed the BJP by calling the whole issue surrounding the Ram Temple inauguration a “show-off” and said the saffron party “does the exact opposite” of what the traits of Lord Ram teach.
“I have Ram in my heart. I don’t need to show off. What I say to you is from my heart because I do not care about all these things. If Ram is in my heart and Ram has guided me throughout my journey, it means that I have done something right,” Sibal said.
All eyes are now on the Congress and its senior leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, its leader in the outgoing Lok Sabha, and its former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, have also been invited, but it is not clear if Rahul Gandhi received one.
General Secretary KC Venugopal confirmed the invite and told reporters, “You will (be told) about the party’s stand… you will know on January 22. They (the BJP) invited us. We are very thankful for inviting us… let us see.”
The consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple will be held on January 22. The planned campaign before the ceremony was kickstarted on Monday and children dressed up as Lord Ram and Goddess Sita knocked on every door of Ayodhya to invite them to offer their prayers at the Ram Temple.
(With inputs from agencies)