New Delhi: The upcoming consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the main highlight, has predictably become a political matter ahead of the Lok Sabha election scheduled in less than four months. While invitations have been extended to religious leaders and actors for the event on January 22, it is the response of opposition leaders that is garnering attention.
Brinda Karat, a leader from the CPI (M), emphasized her party’s decision to abstain from the program, labeling it as the “politicization of a religious event.” She stated, “No, we will not attend. We hold respect for religious beliefs… but connecting a religious event with politics is inappropriate. Using religion as a political tool or to further a political agenda is not justified,” Ms. Karat conveyed to news agency ANI.
In response, the BJP, for whom the construction of the temple has been a significant campaign issue and will continue to be so in the lead-up to the 2024 general and state elections, retaliated through Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi. She stated, “…invitations were extended to everyone, but only those summoned by Lord Ram will attend.”
It is not only the Left leaders who have declined the invitation to the Ram Temple; other opposition politicians have also followed suit.
Kapil Sibal, a former leader of the Congress party, expressed his sentiments by stating that he has “Lord Ram in my heart” and therefore did not feel the need to attend the ceremony, which is expected to be a display of strength by the BJP ahead of the elections.
In an interview with ANI, Mr. Sibal emphasized that his words were heartfelt and that he did not care about such events. He believed that having Lord Ram in his heart and being guided by him meant that he had done something right.
Mr. Sibal criticized the BJP for being showy and pointed out that their actions did not align with the principles of Lord Ram. He highlighted the importance of truthfulness, tolerance, sacrifice, and respect for others, which he believed the BJP lacked.
Reports suggest that the CPI, another Left party, is also likely to skip the Ram Temple event.
The refusals to attend the event drew a sharp response from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who taunted the BJP’s rivals, especially those who used to mock them. He challenged them to come to Ayodhya and witness the temple if they had the courage.
While other opposition parties and leaders, including Mr. Sibal, have voiced their opinions, attention is now focused on the Congress and its senior leaders, such as Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi.
Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Congress leader in the outgoing Lok Sabha, and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have also received invitations, but it remains unclear if Rahul Gandhi has been invited.
The Congress, being the BJP’s main national rival, faces a delicate situation in accepting the invitation. Doing so may potentially alienate minority votes, particularly from the Muslim community, which holds significant influence in a state with 80 Lok Sabha MPs and where Muslims make up around 20 percent of the population.
The Congress has been cautious in its response so far. General Secretary KC Venugopal confirmed the invitation and stated that the party’s stance would be revealed on January 22.
“We are very thankful for the invitation from the BJP. Let us wait and see,” Venugopal told reporters.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who criticized the BJP for excluding him, questioned the basis for their objection and suggested that either Mrs. Gandhi or a delegation should attend.
However, the uncertainty and political maneuvering surrounding the invitations for the Ayodhya Ram Temple event is not limited to opposition leaders. The BJP initially appeared to disregard two veterans – LK Advani and Murali Manohar Joshi, both prominent figures in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
This apparent oversight sparked controversy, with many accusing the BJP of disrespecting these senior leaders.
Shortly after, however, the right-wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) clarified that invitations had indeed been sent to Mr. Advani, a former Deputy Prime Minister, and Mr. Joshi, a former Union Minister. Whether they will attend or not remains uncertain; the VHP stated that “both seniors said they would try their best…”
The VHP is a part of the Sangh Parivar, the BJP’s ideological parent organization.