Congress questions motive behind 'inauguration of incomplete temple'; 'respectfully declines' invitation

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Congress on Wednesday «respectfully declined» the invitation to attend the 'pran pratishthan' (consecration) ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya and said that RSS and BJP had made the temple a «political project» for «electoral gains».

In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh questioned the motive behind the inauguration of the «incomplete» temple by BJP and RSS leaders.

Last month, Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had received the invitation to attend the ceremony on January 22.

«Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. Religion is a personal matter.

But RSS, BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by leaders of BJP and RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain,» Ramesh said.