Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Congress’s decision to decline an invitation to the consecration ceremony of Ayodhya’s Ram Temple on January 22, BJP leaders, including Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, took to social media to share an old photo of Rahul Gandhi at Afghanistan’s Babur Tomb.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, in a post on X, questioned the Gandhis’ apparent visit to the Babur Tomb in 2005 and expressed concern over the perceived “hatred for Ram Lala” and questioned the Congress’s stance on the Ayodhya event, asking, “Why do you hate Hindus so much?”
This development comes after the Congress clarified that Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the three leaders invited to the Ayodhya event, would not attend, citing that it is a ‘clearly a BJP/RSS event’ and the temple construction is not yet complete. The BJP responded by labeling the Congress as ‘anti-Hindu.’
Sarma, using the photo as ammunition, invoked Jawaharlal Nehru in the ongoing row, drawing parallels with Nehru’s stance on the Somnath Temple. He emphasized that history will continue to judge the Congress as an ‘anti-Hindu’ party.
The Congress, in response to the Nehru reference, downplayed the matter, stating that Nehru was transparent, leaving behind written records in his correspondences.
Several political parties, including the Congress, CPM, and Trinamool Congress, expressed their views against using the Ayodhya event for political gain, emphasizing that religion is a private affair. However, there were differing opinions within the Samajwadi Party, with Dimple Yadav expressing her desire to attend the event, while party chief Akhilesh Yadav maintained that religion should not be a part of politics.
The exchange between the BJP and Congress over the Ayodhya event continues to intensify, with both parties presenting their arguments and opinions on the matter.
