On Congress' decision, of declining the invitation to the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Mallikarjun Kharge stressed that it was not meant to hurt religious sentiments. BJP had accused the party of making it a matter of "political project" ahead of the upcoming polls.
Congress President Kharge, former party chief Sonia Gandhi and party's leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday "respectfully declined" the invitation to attend the ceremony on January 22.
"Hurting any religion or guru is not our issue. Our issue is...what work is the PM doing to ensure jobs for the public? What steps is he taking to control inflation? What is he doing for poor people," Kharge told reporters.
"It is a conspiracy of BJP that (the party) is raising this issue again and again," he added.
The Congress also pointed out that all four shankaracharyas, heads of the four main Hindu religious centres, were not attending the ceremony as well. “Does this not hurt religion?” asked Congress party's Chairperson Social Media & Digital Platforms Supriya Shrinate.
#WATCH | Congress party's Chairperson Social Media & Digital Platforms Supriya Shrinate says, "All four Shankaracharyas have decided to not visit Ayodhya (for pranpratishtha of Ram Temple). But there is no outrage over this. Does this not hurt religion? It is absolutely wrong to… pic.twitter.com/qzm1RlbbbC
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2024
While speaking to the reporters she said that “It is absolutely wrong to do politics over religious rituals.”
“We are not declining a visit (to Ayodhya). We are not going to the 22nd January event in Ayodhya that is being held in the presence of PM Modi and RSS chief. Shankaracharyas are not going to that event either. We don't want to be a part of the disgusting politics that is being done,” Shrinate was quoted by ANI.
Congress' Pawan Khera also alleged that the installation of Lord Ram's idols isn't being held in accordance with religious procedures. "Why will I tolerate workers of a political party becoming middlemen between me and my God?" he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Khera also said the four shankaracharyas have said the consecration ceremony cannot be performed in an incomplete temple.
Meanwhile, senior congress leader Karan Singh in a statement said that after the SC judgement there should be no hesitation in attending the function, if invited.
He also said that he will not be able to attend the ceremony due to his health condition.
Senior Congress leader Dr Karan Singh says he will not be able to attend the Ram temple 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony on "medical grounds" pic.twitter.com/fOfLdprTRm
— ANI (@ANI) January 12, 2024
"As a Raghuvanshi myself, and having made a modest personal donation of Rs 11 lakh towards the construction, it would have been a great pleasure to attend. Regretfully, nearing 93, it will not be possible for me to do so on medical grounds," he said in the statement.
BJP had said that by Congress declining the invitation, it has exposed the party's inherent opposition to India's culture and Hindu religion.
Due to its feelings of "jealousy, malice and inferiority complex" towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had gone to the extent of opposing the country and is now opposing God, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters in Delhi on Thursday.
