Union Home Minister Amit Shah pays tribute to the statue
of Maharaja Raghunath Shah in Jabalpur on Saturday. PTI
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was privileged to be invited for the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday attacked the Congress, alleging that the party has “hindered the construction of the Ram Temple” since Independence.
Speaking at a rally in Junnardeo in Madhya Pradesh, Shah said, “Every year we celebrate one Diwali. But this year, there will be three Diwalis in Madhya Pradesh. The first is the usual Diwali festivities which happen every year. The second Diwali will be held after BJP wins in Madhya Pradesh. The third will be when (prime minister Narendra) Modiji will consecrate Lord Ram in the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.”
Shah reminded the gathering that when the BJP returned with swelled numbers in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Modi had laid the foundation stone for the temple. On January 22, the temple will also be unveiled, he said.
“When I was the BJP president, Rahul (Gandhi) Baba used to mock us with the slogan ‘Mandir wahi banayenge par tithi nahi batayenge’. Now we have built the temple and also given the date. Now Rahul Baba should come to the temple and pray,” Shah said
Ahead of the elections, BJP and the Congress have been sparring on the contentious issue of the Ram Mandir. Opposition parties alleged that BJP violated the Model Code of Conduct by using religious symbols during poll campaigning by showcasing Ayodhya, while the BJP hit back, calling Congress “anti-Ram”.
Earlier in the day, former CM Kamal Nath said, “They are speaking about Ram Mandir like this is BJP’s temple. Ram Mandir is our nation’s temple. This is a big symbol of our Sanatan Dharma.”
Hailing the PM for his efforts, Shah said “(PM Modi has) left no stone unturned to enhance the pride of the nation” and cited Ram Temple, abrogating of Article 370, ending Triple Talaq, surgical strike, Chandrayaan-3 success, the new Parliament building and passing of the Women’s Quota Bill as some of the highlights of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and took a jibe at Congress, saying “(they) never see positive developments”. “Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi are now asking what happened during the Modi’s tenure. Rahul Baba should know only people who have their roots in India can understand what has happened. People who are anchored in Italy cannot understand this,” Shah said.
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Taking a dig at the “dynastic” politics in Madhya Pradesh, Shah said, “Only three families call the shots in MP Congress — families of Digvijaya Singh, Kamal Nath and Gandhi. Directions come from the Gandhis and Kamal Nath family. But when there is a failure, Digvijaya is pulled up. In any district, you will find Digvijaya and Kamal Nath lobbies tearing each other’s clothes. How can a party which is not united do any welfare for the people?”
Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy.
Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free.
Expertise and Reporting Beats
Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors:
National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres.
Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA).
Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking.
Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers.
Professional Background
Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017.
Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh.
Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs.
Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife.
Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance.
Digital & Professional Presence
Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express
Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More
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