The BJP on January 11 termed the Congress leadership’s decision to “respectfully decline” an invitation to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as an example of the Opposition party’s “tendency” to boycott events that mark the “turning of a page of history” due to its feelings of “jealousy, malice and inferiority” complex regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“Due to its feelings of jealousy, malice and inferiority complex towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had gone to the extent of opposing the country and is now opposing God,” BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, addressing journalists at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi.
Mr. Trivedi noted that Iqbal Ansari, the Muslim litigant in the land dispute case involving the temple and the Babri mosque which once stood at the spot, had also been extended an invitation, reflecting “Hinduism’s generosity”. Mr. Ansari had accepted the invitation, even while the Congress chose to boycott the ceremony, Mr. Trivedi said.
Boycotting historic moments
He claimed that it has been the main Opposition party’s tendency to create hurdles during historic moments for the country. “Whenever the page of history turns, the Congress, instead of standing with it, has opted to boycott,” he said, citing a host of recent events, including the inauguration of the new Parliament building, enactment of the GST, and addresses to Parliament by President Droupadi Murmu and former President Ram Nath Kovind.
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Mr. Trivedi rejected the Congress’ contention that the BJP and RSS had appropriated the entire event, scheduled to be held on January 22 in Ayodhya, saying that there was no division among people in the temple. “It should not be linked to any organisation or ideology,” he said.
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The BJP spokesperson wondered whether the Congress still stood by the idea of rebuilding the mosque, which was torn down by a frenzied mob in Ayodhya in 1992.
Nehruvian legacy
Noting that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had opposed the association of then-President Rajendra Prasad and some Congress leaders with the rebuilding and inauguration of the Somnath temple, Mr. Trivedi claimed that the Congress was continuing this Nehruvian legacy and has disowned the ‘Ram Rajya’ concept of Mahatma Gandhi.
A Congress government under Indira Gandhi had fired upon saints protesting against cow-slaughter, said the BJP spokesperson, adding that under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, the Congress had described Lord Ram as an imaginary figure.
Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday “respectfully declined” the invitation to attend the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, with the party accusing the BJP of making it into a “political project” for electoral gains.
Published - January 11, 2024 01:12 pm IST
