Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, affirming that Congress members are devotees of Lord Ram, defended the party’s choice to “respectfully decline” the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya this January, describing it as a “political” event organized for “a political person.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Pran Pratishtha rituals at the grand Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya. In an interview with ANI, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of “politicizing of religion”, stating that it degrades both religion and politics.
Criticizing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he stated that they are “vyapBJari (traders) of Ram” while Congress members were “pujari (worshippers)” of the deity.
“The January 22 celebration was political. It was done for a political person. We are the worshipers of Ram and they (BJP) are traders of Ram. Interestingly, it is my birthday today. My name is -Jairam Ramesh – both parts of my name have ‘Ram’. No one can call us anti-Ram. The politicization of religion brings down religion and politics as well,” Jairam Ramesh said.
He was questioned about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments at his Lok Sabha election rally in Chhattisgarh on Monday, where he criticized Congress for refusing the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha event. PM Modi also accused Congress of taking action against those who opposed the party’s position.
In January, Congress released a statement declining the invitation for its senior leaders to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya, stating it was “clearly an RSS/BJP event”.
“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,” the party stated.
The Pran Pratishtha ceremony took place on January 22. During a public meeting in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, on Monday, Prime Minister Modi stated that the aspiration for a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has been fulfilled.
“Ram Navami is not far away. This time, Ram Lalla will give his blessings from the grand temple and not just from a tent. This dream was fulfilled after 500 years, so it’s obvious that Lord Ram’s ‘nanihaal’ (home of maternal grandmother) Chhattisgarh will be the happiest,” he stated.