India's opposition Congress 'respectfully declines' Ram Mandir invite: 'Religion a personal matter'

TOP leaders of the Indian National Congress, India's main opposition party, have declined to attend the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in the temple town of Ayodhya in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on January 22.

Releasing the statement of senior leader and its general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh, India's Grand-Old Party said three top leaders -- party president Mallikarjun Kharge, parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha or lower house of the parliament -- who had received the invitation, "respectfully declined" it. The party also called the event an "RSS/BJP" one, taking a dig at India's Hindu nationalist ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

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Accusing the BJP and RSS of making the temple a political project, the Congress said in its statement, "Lord Ram 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."

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"While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event," it added.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right-wing group which has planned celebrations on the day of the consecration in 55 countries to connect with the Indian diaspora, said the Congress's decision to not take part in the event was its own choice.

"We have sent the invitation, it is okay if they don't want to come," VHP said, according to sources.

However, Ajay Rai, chief of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, said he will visit Ayodhya and take a holy bath in the Saryu river on January 15. He said he has not been invited to the event.

A massive event has been planned for January 22 when prime minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the event. More than 6,000 people, including celebrities, industrialists and others, are also expected to attend the ceremony along with high-profile politicians.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will also be present.