In a notable development, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh confirmed that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi have received invitations to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. A decision on their attendance will be made at an appropriate time.
However, the Congress party distanced itself from the controversial remarks made by its leader, Sam Pitroda, stating that his views on the Ram Mandir issue do not represent the official stance of the Congress. Pitroda had previously commented that the Ram Mandir wasn’t the real issue; unemployment was.
“Sam Pitroda’s statement is not an official statement of Congress. He doesn’t speak on behalf of the Congress party,” clarified Jairam Ramesh.
Pitroda’s stance, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues like unemployment over the Ram Mandir, triggered reactions from various quarters. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP leaders Sushil Modi and Kailash Vijayvargiya criticized Pitroda, with Pradhan stating that the Congress’s response reflects an allergy to Lord Ram and Hindus.
Despite the controversy, the party remains focused on the upcoming Ram Temple event scheduled for January 22, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his council of ministers are expected to be present alongside thousands of seers and celebrities.
