Kozhikode: Amid reports of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s possible attendance at the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) warned its ally Congress against falling into the trap of the BJP’s communal agenda ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
The IUML, after a meeting of its political advisory committee in Kozhikode, expressed concern over the BJP's alleged attempt to turn the sacred event into a launchpad for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The IUML, while emphasizing its deep respect for the Hindu community's faith and freedom of worship, accuses the BJP of leveraging the ceremony for political gains. The party contends that the BJP's agenda involves using religious beliefs as a cover for its pursuit of power.
IUML state president Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal urged all secular parties to unite in handling the issue politically while upholding secular and constitutional values.
The Congress, facing internal and external pressure, received a stern warning from the IUML's affiliate, the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama (SAMASTHA). SAMASTHA criticized the Congress's ambivalence over attending the ceremony, accusing it of adopting a "soft Hindutva approach" to prevent the erosion of Hindu votes in North India.
While reacting to the developments, senior IUML legislator and party general secretary P K Kunhalikutty refrained from commenting on the stand of other parties, emphasizing that political debates should focus on critical issues like hunger and unemployment.
The situation has further intensified as several Congress leaders from Kerala individually came out opposing the party's possible articipation in the Ayodhya event, anticipating potential political repercussions in the state. The BJP, seizing the opportunity, accused the Congress of insulting the majority Hindu community by not clarifying its stance on the Ram Temple invite and resorting to minority appeasement, an argument the BJP repeatedly uses against its adversaries.