Mokokchung, Nagaland: Congress General Secretary in Charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh called the Ram Temple consecration ceremony a "political project'' of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Asian News International reported
Days ago, Congress declined the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony scheduled on January 22.
Ramesh noted that every family has a temple at their place, just like he has it. But what the BJP is doing is the politicization of lord Ram, he told ANI at Mokokchung during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra.
The decision taken by INDIA bloc leaders to decline Ram Temple invitation incited the right-wing factions. Many prominent leaders from the BJP surfaced against the leader's decision, declining it. Some even argued that by declining the invitation and not being part of the programme, the INDIA bloc leaders are politicising the event.
He further said that the inauguration ceremony is a political programme, a political project of the saffron party, misusing the 'dharma'.
Ramesh's statement is one among many sources that accused the ruling BJP of using The Ram Temple to win the upcoming general elections.
Meanwhile, the BJP kept accusing Congress of hurting religious sentiments.
Leaders who turned down the ceremony include CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Sonia Gandhi and the party's Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury etc.
Though Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav declined the invitation, he said that he would visit the temple at a later date.