A day following the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony for the Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi characterized the event as a “political program of the BJP,” dismissing any notion of it creating a wave (‘Leher’) among the people.
Addressing a press conference in Assam, Rahul Gandhi stated, “There is no ‘Leher.’ There is nothing of the sort. It is the BJP’s political program. Narendra Modi ji addressed the gathering there and held a function, it’s fine. But we have our clarity—five pillars of justice to strengthen the country.” The Congress had previously declined the invitation to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, denoting it as a ‘BJP/RSS event.’ Key leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury opted not to attend the grand event in Ayodhya.
“Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS and 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 obviously been brought forward for electoral gain,” stated the Congress in a released statement.
While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and respecting the sentiments of those who revere Lord Ram, Congress leaders chose not to participate in what they deemed a clear RSS and BJP event. The Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya took place on Monday, unveiling the idol through hour-long rituals in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Approximately 8,000 invitees, including 1,500-1,600 eminent guests, attended the event.
The city of Ayodhya, known as the ‘Ram Nagri,’ gained global attention with the massive lighting of earthen lamps or diyas and fireworks illuminating different parts of the city during the ceremony. The grandeur of the event reflected the cultural significance of the Ram Temple and marked a historic moment in Ayodhya’s heritage.
