Congressman Shashi Tharoor has defended the Congress party’s decision not to accept the invitation for the consecration ritual of the Ram Mandir on January 22, amid criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Prominent Congress members, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, declined the invitation, labeling it a “BJP-RSS” function. Tharoor explained that attending a political event for an unfinished temple would be inappropriate, as construction on the Ayodhya Temple is still ongoing.
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Tharoor emphasized that the timing of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony seemed to be politically motivated by the ruling BJP. He argued that participating in the event at this stage would be perceived as a political decision rather than a personal one. Tharoor suggested waiting until the completion of the temple and the conclusion of the Lok Sabha elections before participating. He also mentioned his intention to visit Kashi Vishwanath, stating that there is nothing wrong with going there for prayers.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP clarified that there is nothing incorrect with Hindus acknowledging the dedication of the Ram temple, but the Congress party chose not to participate to send a different message. Sonia Gandhi, in a social media post, referred to a 1999 speech where she highlighted Hindu liberal ideas’ role in shaping India’s secular identity.
Tharoor’s response came after the BJP criticized the Congress party, accusing it of displaying inherent hostility to Hinduism and Indian culture by refusing to send its top leaders to the Ram Temple consecration. Tharoor defended the party’s stance by referencing Swami Vivekananda’s teachings and Sonia Gandhi’s earlier speech on the appropriation of Vivekananda’s ideas by certain segments of society.
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Tharoor reiterated that the Congress party’s association with Hindu liberalism is rooted in its long-standing beliefs rather than a reaction to recent events. This position aligns with Sonia Gandhi’s concerns expressed in 1999 about the appropriation of Swami Vivekananda by some sections of society.