VHP slams Yechury for declining Ram Temple function invite, Sibal asks BJP to embrace Ram’s values
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New Delhi: As the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust extends invitations to leaders of various political parties for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, many leaders have openly expressed their unwillingness to attend.
Among them, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and former Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal stand out with their decisions explicitly stated. While Yechury declined the invitation, Sibal mentioned that he does not like to participate in a 'show-off' ceremony.
But Yechury's decision to decline the invitation to the ceremony sparked a heated exchange of words with Vishva Hindu Parishad National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal.
Bansal took to social media, suggesting a peculiar connection between one's name and political ideology, stating, "There are reports that those whose name is Sitaram will not go to Ayodhya Dham!! Whether the hatred is towards Ram or towards one's own name, it has to be told...!!"
Sibal asserted that Lord Ram resides in his heart and dismissed the need for public displays of devotion. Sibal criticized the entire Ram Mandir construction issue as a "show-off," emphasizing a perceived disparity between the ruling party's behaviour and the principles associated with Lord Ram. "They (BJP) talk about Ram but their behaviour, their character is nowhere close to Ram's," remarked Sibal.
Sibal urged political leaders to embody Lord Ram's principles rather than engaging in symbolic gestures. "What is in your heart is not Ram. You need to have Ram's principles in your heart and fulfil the constitutional goals by following his principles," he said.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has decided against participating in the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, according to senior party leader Brinda Karat.
She emphasized the party's respect for religious beliefs but criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what she perceived as the inappropriate politicization of religion. Karat expressed concerns about connecting a religious program with political motives and asserted that such actions are not in alignment with the principles of separating religious and political spheres.
Amidst the contrasting viewpoints, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust extended invitations to various opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Sonia Gandhi, and party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
Former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda, as well as leaders from other political parties such as Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party and Mayawati of the BSP, are also reported to have received invitations.
While the Congress expressed gratitude to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust for extending the invitation, the party has not clarified its stance on whether its senior leaders will be present at the ceremony.
