'Didn't intend to hurt sentiments': Congress gives clarification for declining Ram Mandir invite
Ram Mandir invite: Amid conflicting notes within the party as well as public anger over top leaders' refusal to attend Shri Ram Lalla's 'Pran Pratishtha' at his birthplace in Ayodhya on January 22, Congress national president Mallikatjun Kharge stated that the decision was not intended to hurt anyone's sentiments or religion.
Earlier, Congress leaders, including Karge, former national president Sonia Gandhi, and the party's Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, declined invitations to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, calling it a 'BJP-RSS' event.
Speaking to reporters, the Congress president said, "We have already said that if anyone wants to visit Ayodhya (for the 'Pran Pratishtha' event on January 22), they are free to go anytime they want. However, the BJP has been targeting us relentlessly over our decision not to attend the event. This is unfair. Our decision was not intended to hurt the sentiments of any person or religion."
"We want to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi what steps he has taken to reduce inflation and unemployment. We'd also like him to list the steps he's taken to secure our borders. These are issues that directly affect the country and its people," Kharge said.
Since the Congress turned down the invitation to the Ram Temple, the BJP has been criticising the grand old party, accusing it of denying the country's identity and soul.
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan slammed the Congress on Friday, saying, "The Ram Mandir is our Rashtra Mandir (national temple) and Prabhu Shri Ram is intrinsic to our existence and faith. He represents the country's identity and soul. So, by turning down the invitation to attend the 'Pran Pratishtha' at Ayodhya, they have denied our civilisational roots and national identity. This is unfortunate."
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