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'Will regret if...': BJP's first reaction on Sonia Gandhi rejecting Ram Mandir invitation

Jan 10, 2024 05:14 PM IST

The BJP also accused the Congress party of being stuck in its "rhetoric".

New Delhi: The Congress party will regret its decision to not attend the January 22 consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, Union minister and BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday, in the party's first reaction to Sonia Gandhi rejecting the invitation for the grand Ayodhya event. He also accused the Congress party of being stuck in its "rhetoric".

Hardeep Singh Puri(PTI file photo)
Hardeep Singh Puri(PTI file photo)

"They are stuck in their rhetoric...Why take them seriously? They will regret it if they don't go," said Puri.

BJP leader Nalin Kohli said the Congress party's decision wasn't surprising as they had denied Lord Ram's existence.

"The Congress took no steps over the last few decades for a temple at Ayodhya. They denied the existence of Lord Ram and delayed the hearing in the Supreme Court. So, the Congress party officially stating that it is not going to attend Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha should come as no surprise," he said.

BJP national secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa slammed the Congress for blaming the BJP for its decision.

“Congress’ denial to attend the Ram Mandir Pran Pratistha is their party’s stand and that’s okay, but quoting that this is a BJP event is unacceptable. I condemn their statement," he said.

The Congress party on Wednesday turned down the invitation extended to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury saying the BJP and the RSS had made the temple its political project.

​Also read: Divine domination: Ayodhya Ram Mandir handle reigns with 602.3K followers

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Ram Temple was being used by the BJP for political gains.

"Lord Rama 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 judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event," he said in a statement.

Also read: Ayodhya Trust shares photos of Ram Janmabhoomi Temple adorned in nightlight. See here

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP stalwarts will attend the event marking the installation of the idols of Lord Ram inside the temple.

Earlier this month, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury turned down VHP's temple invitation, accusing the BJP of mixing religion with politics.

With inputs from PTI, ANI

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