The Congress was accused of opposing the temple by the party, who presented union ministers Anurag Thakur, Smriti Irani, and Hardeep Puri as their representatives.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Congress of being “anti-Hindu” after they declined the invitation to the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Union ministers Anurag Thakur, Smriti Irani, and Hardeep Puri were appointed by the party to criticize the Congress for their stance against the temple. Anurag Thakur, who serves as the union minister of Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports, stated that the Congress’s boycott of the event would result in the people boycotting the Congress as well. Thakur highlighted the Congress’s history of opposing Lord Ram, advocating for the rebuilding of the Babri Masjid, and fielding advocates against Ram Lalla in the case.
He emphasized that the Congress has consistently stood against Sanatan Dharam, opposed Ram Setu, and accused Hindus of fundamentalism. Thakur concluded that the Congress’s decision to boycott the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony clearly indicates that the people of India will also boycott the Congress in the future. Kapil Khanna, the president of the Delhi unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, urged the Congress to set aside politics for one day and allow Lord Ram to take center stage on January 22.
Khanna expressed disappointment that despite taking the time to invite important individuals and provide them with event details, some individuals accepted the invitation but later declined. He suggested that the Congress should focus on politics until January 21 and then resume it on January 23, leaving January 22 solely for Lord Ram.
Among the 7000-8000 invitations, 45 were allocated to Hindu saints, while 1500 were given to the aides of the saints and over 1500 were extended to prominent individuals from around the world. All major political parties received invitations, with the Congress party receiving three, which is nearly equal to the number given to the BJP, excluding stalwarts of the temple movement like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, as per Khanna’s statement.
Smriti Irani, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs, stated that the Congress party opposes Lord Ram. She emphasized that the Congress’s anti-Ram stance is evident to the nation. Irani pointed out that under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the party had even filed an affidavit in court claiming that Lord Ram is a fictional character. Furthermore, she highlighted that the Congress leadership declined the invitation to the ‘pranpratishtha’ of Ram Temple. Irani concluded that this decision by the Congress reflects their anti-Sanatan mindset, which is evident in the declining of the invitation by leaders of the I.N.D.I.A bloc.