The Congress, on Friday, said the party will take a decision at an "appropriate time" on whether party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi will attend the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said both Gandhi and Kharge have been invited to the ceremony.
"Chairperson Congress parliamentary party Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge have been invited to the inauguration of the Ram temple. A decision will be taken at an appropriate time, and communicated at an appropriate time," he said.
The consecration ceremony will be held on January 22 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend it.
The party also sought to distance itself from the comments of Congress leader Sam Pitroda who asked if Ram Mandir is a real issue. "Talk about employment, talk about inflation, talk about science and technology and challenges. They (people) have to decide what are the real issues- is Ram Mandir the real issue? Or unemployment is a real issue. Is Ram Mandir the real issue or Inflation is a real issue," Pitroda had said.
Ramesh said the remarks made by Pitroda are his personal opinion and do not reflect the views of the party. "He (Pitroda) does not speak for the Congress party. He has made the statement in his individual capacity."