Special Pooja: Karnataka Muzrai Minister Reddy scoffs at BJP claims, says Hindus worshipping Lord Ram from times before BJP was born

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Karnataka's Religious Endowments Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday lashed out at the BJP for claiming that he ordered a special pooja at temples on January 22 caving under its pressure.

Reddy said members of the Hindu community always worshipped Lord Ram even before the BJP was born as a political party.

«Special poojas have been conducted on auspicious days and festivals at Hindu temples as a routine. January 22nd is also one such special day for all Hindus: The new Ram Mandir is being opened as the dispute over the land is now a closed chapter.

This is the practice from time immemorial, even before the time @BJP4India was formed. To claim that only those in the BJP are devotees of Lord Ram, and others are not is a bit too much.

With or without BJP, the special Pooja would go on,» Reddy, a senior Congress leader and also a Transport Minister, said in a post on social media platform X.

The minister added that «We worship the principles of Prabhu Sri Ramachandra. Every Hindu sees him as Maryada Purush.

As a party, the @INCIndia also respects the sentiments of members of other religions towards their faith. The BJP seeks to indulge in divisive politics here and trade on people’s devotion to Prabhu Sri Ram.»

The BJP lost the assembly elections in May because «Dharma prevailed over Evil,» Reddy said, adding people could see the naked attempts of the BJP to claim the power of Lord Sri Ram as its own.

The Minister's post came in response to BJP's post, «It's ironic that the Congress Party who is always against Prabhu Shri Ram, known for questioning and even ridiculing his existence, are now doing Ram Japa.

The past has proven how Ram Sena wiped out Ravana and his entire Kingdom. Similarly, today, Ram bhakts have pushed