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Read below: Inauguration of Ram Mandir is 'festival' for Indians: Kumaraswamy
GUWAHATI — In response to Congress turning down an invitation to attend the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said the grand old party was given a "golden opportunity to reduce its sin".
In a post on X, Sarma said: "The @VHPDigital had given the Congress party a golden opportunity to reduce its sin by extending their leadership an invitation to attend the Shri Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Mahotsava.
"Although, in my humble view, they did not deserve such an invitation at the first place for their views against the Ram Mandir from the very beginning.
"By accepting this invitation, they could have symbolically offered an apology to the Hindu Samaj. However, like Pt Nehru did with the Somnath Temple, the Congress leadership did the same with the Ram Temple. History will continue to judge them as an anti-Hindu party."
The @VHPDigital had given the Congress party a golden opportunity to reduce its sin by extending their leadership an invitation to attend the Shri Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Mahotsava.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 11, 2024
Although, in my humble view, they did not deserve such an invitation at the first place for… pic.twitter.com/itexgWdx3I
He also attached a letter by Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh dated January 10 of officially declining the invitation.
BENGALURU — Former Chief Minister and JD(S) State President H. D. Kumaraswamy on Thursday said that inauguration of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is a "festival" for all Indians as people of the country since long wanted it to be built.
On Congress leaders deciding not to attend the inaugural event of Ram mandir, Kumaraswamy told reporters that they (Congress leaders) should explain why they are not attending the event.
"There is no connection between their decisions and me," he said.
Kumaraswamy said JD(S) has forged an alliance with BJP in the state, but the decision on candidates and constituencies has not been taken. Once the talks are over, the candidates will be decided and once the decision is taken, there will be no confusion and everything will fall in place, he said.
On Congress high command's decision not to attend the inauguration of Ram mandir, State Home Minister G. Parameshwara said, "We have to obey the orders of the party. Since the high command had taken a call not to attend the event, we will not go for the inauguration in Ayodhya."
State Cooperation Minister K. N. Rajanna said the leaders have explained as to why the decision is made not to attend the inauguration of the Ram mandir.
"Every village and town has had a Ram temple for thousands of years. The uniqueness of Ayodhya Ram mandir is that it is built at birth place of Lord Rama. Valmiki is the author of Ramayana. It is the demand of all communities that Valmiki temple should be built in Ayodhya.
"We had gone to Ayodhya when Ram Lalla was worshipped in a tent. We will visit Ram mandir in future. It is a personal decision," Rajanna said.
State Excise Minister R. B. Timmapur stated that Hindu religion is not the property of anyone. "We, Dalits are made to stand outside temples. People don't invite us inside."
"There is no compulsion that we should visit Ayodhya. We can pay respect from here. Those who talk about Hindutva must speak about Dalits. They should clarify whether their definition of Hindu includes Dalits. If Dalits founded a place, the BJP should inculcate etiquettes of Dalits," Timmapur said.