‘Clearly an RSS-BJP event’: Congress says won’t attend Ram Mandir inauguration

The Congress party Wednesday said it will skip the upcoming inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22,

“The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain,” a statement released by the party read.  “While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event.”

The party’s statement on the matter

Several top politicians, athletes and celebrities were invited for the consecration ceremony. Invitations were extended to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as well as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Other Opposition leaders that were invited for the event include Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav and Sitaram Yechury.