As 22 January 2024 approaches, a multitude of dignitaries and individuals from diverse backgrounds eagerly anticipating to witness the historic moment of Ayodhya’s Ram temple inauguration. However, the Congress party has announced its decision to abstain from participating in the grand inauguration ceremony.
Surprisingly on 10 January 2024, the venerable political party and its key figures, including party leader Mallikarjun Kharge, former leader Sonia Gandhi, and Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, announced that they are turning down the invitation, labeling it as a ‘political initiative’ orchestrated by the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
The Congress party’s objection stems from its perception of the event as a political maneuver, rather than a purely religious affair. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh emphasized the party’s commitment to abide by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment while simultaneously expressing reservations about the political implications of the temple’s inauguration.
In an official statement from Jairam Ramesh, who serves as the General Secretary for Communications in the Indian National Congress stated “Lord Ram is worshipped by millions in our country. Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain. While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honoring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event”.
Here is the statement of Shri @Jairam_Ramesh, General Secretary (Communications), Indian National Congress. pic.twitter.com/JcKIEk3afy
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 10, 2024
The BJP, in response, condemned the Congress party’s decision, accusing it of being anti-Hindu. This criticism is not unfounded, considering the party’s historical positions on various issues related to Hindu sentiments.
The Congress Party’s Minority Appeasement History
The echoes of history reverberate in the Congress party’s stance on religious matters. One notable instance is Jawaharlal Nehru’s opposition to the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple. Despite the temple’s tragic destruction in 1665 CE and subsequent abandonment, Nehru labeled its reconstruction as ‘Hindu Revivalism,’ showcasing the party’s historical skepticism towards overt religious symbolism.
Another significant episode in Congress’s history is the Shah Bano case during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure. The party’s decision to overturn the Supreme Court’s judgment in 1986, succumbing to pressure from Muslim hardliners, exemplifies its approach of prioritizing minority appeasement over judicial decisions, setting a controversial precedent.
Moreover, instances of Congress leaders mocking Hindu deities and downplaying the significance of the Ram Temple have fueled perceptions of the party’s insensitivity towards Hindu sentiments. From Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ being compared to Lord Ram’s journey to derogatory comments about Lord Ram’s birth as a myth by I.N.D.I ally DMK leaders like TKS Elangovan, the party has faced severe criticism for its dismissive attitude.
The Congress party’s engagement with the ‘Saffron Terror’ narrative, as highlighted in Wikileaks tapes 2009, and its proposed communal violence bill, which selectively labeled only Hindus as potential perpetrators, further underscores its complex relationship with Hinduism.
The controversy surrounding ‘The Kashmir Files’ in 2022 exposed the Congress party’s reluctance to acknowledge the genocide of Kashmiri Hindus. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh not only questioned the veracity of the genocide but also cast doubt on the filmmakers’ intentions, reflecting a pattern of discrediting Hindus.
While the Congress attempts to balance public displays of ‘soft Hindutva’ with minority appeasement and covert caste politics, instances of open disdain for Hindu beliefs have strained its relationship with the majority community. The party’s treacherous history concerning Hindus, from divisive tactics to questioning historical events, has contributed to the perception of the Congress party as harboring anti-Hindu leanings.
In conclusion, the Congress party’s approach to religious and historical narratives is marked by a complex interplay of political considerations, minority appeasement, and instances of open disregard for Hindu sentiments. As the nation witnesses the Ayodhya Ram Temple inauguration, the Congress party’s absence serves as a reminder of its nuanced relationship with religious and cultural identity.
(Inputs with OpIndia)
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