Congress scion Rahul Gandhi, in an attempt to appease the minorities has once again stirred controversy by addressing Congress workers in Ahmedabad on 6 July 2024, asserting that the Congress and its alliance in the INDIA Bloc have defeated the BJP’s Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which ultimately led to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
This speech comes amidst his visit to meet the victims of the Rajkot gaming zone fire. Rahul Gandhi proclaimed his party’s commitment to defeating the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections in Gujarat and presenting a new vision for the state.
During his speech, Rahul Gandhi commented on the BJP’s focus on the Ram Mandir during the Lok Sabha elections, a movement originally spearheaded by L K Advani with the Rath Yatra. He criticized Narendra Modi for allegedly assisting Advani during the yatra and accused the BJP of politicizing Lord Ram and the Ayodhya issue. Rahul mentioned conversations with people in Ayodhya who claimed that many suffered due to the temple construction without adequate compensation from the government. He highlighted grievances from farmers regarding land acquisition for the Ayodhya international airport.
Rahul Gandhi also praised Congress workers for their support, noting missed opportunities in Varanasi during the elections. He claimed that Modi barely secured victory there and alleged that the BJP faced significant challenges in the constituency. Congress scion Rahul gandhi said, “The movement (Ayodhya) started by Advani, the centre of Ayodhya, has been defeated by INDIA Bloc. Ask any Samajwadi leader, he will tell you that Congress workers like you stood with us like a babbar sher (lion). The Congress committed one or two mistakes in Varanasi, else Modi would have lost there, too. “
#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Addressing the party workers, Congress MP and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "The farmers of Ayodhya lost their land when the Airport was built. The people of Ayodhya were upset that no one from Ayodhya was invited to the inauguration of the Ram… pic.twitter.com/wslXqLiPyh
— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2024
The Congress party and its leaders have a history of opposing the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Former Congress leader Kapil Sibal notably represented the Sunni Waqf Board in the Ram Janmabhoomi case, employing strategies to delay the decision until after the 2019 elections.
Additionally, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor once controversially stated that no ‘good Hindu’ would support a Ram Mandir at the disputed site, suggesting that such devotion should remain internal. Furthermore, during its tenure, the Congress-led UPA government filed an affidavit in 2007 that cast doubt on the historical existence of Lord Ram. The affidavit stated that while texts like Valmiki Ramayana and Ramcharitmanas are significant literary works, they do not provide historical evidence to definitively prove the existence of the characters and events depicted.
This affidavit was filed in opposition to the demand to halt the Sethusamudram project, which some believed would harm the Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge).
(With Inputs From OpIndia)
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