Ram temple inauguration a ‘political Narendra Modi function’: Rahul Gandhi

Guwahati: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the Ram Temple consecration ceremony has become a completely Narendra Modi function so it was not possible for them to attend. Addressing his first press conference during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Nagaland’s Kohima.Mr Gandhi told reporters, “The RSS and BJP have made the January 22nd function a completely political Narendra Modi function. It’s become a RSS-BJP function and that’s why the Congress president said he won’t go to the function.”

It is significant that the Congress party has declined an invitation by the temple trust to attend the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Elaborating his stand on the issue Mr Gandhi said, “It’s difficult for us to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS. 

The BJP-RSS have given it an election flavour. We are with all religions.” He however clarified, “Whoever wants to go, even from Congress, can go. It’s difficult for us to go as the prime minister, who is our principal opponents have captured a function and made it into an election function.”

When asked about him attending the function he said that he will be on the yatra trail on January 22… somewhere in Assam, according to the schedule. Asked about the status of INDIA alliance and seat sharing with TMC Mr Gandhi said, “The status of the INDIA alliance is very good. We are in conversation with our partners, the issue of seat sharing is being taken up and are ongoing and they are going quite well. Broadly, a lot of those are simple discussions… so I am quite confident that they will be resolved.”

When asked about Mr Nitish Kumar refusing the convenor’s post, and if there are concerns that he will



leave the alliance, Mr Gandhi asserted, “I think the media overplays certain things. You don’t tell the mood of the meeting — the humour, the camaraderie. There is mutual respect and affection between leaders of INDIA formation. It’s an ideological formation that is placing itself in opposition to the idea of RSS and BJP. I am confident we can resolve these small issues.”

On Nagaland peace talks Mr Gandhi said, “The Prime Minister promises things without thinking them through. He has made promises to the youth of India, about education, employment… but nothing has happened in nine years.” He further said, “I have been speaking to quite a few Naga leaders…they are absolutely perplexed about what progress has been made. Frankly, we are not even clear about the PM envisioned in terms of a solution. 

It’s a superficial document that says we are going to work towards peace, and joint sovereignty, but it’s not clear what exactly they mean. Clearly there is a problem that needs resolution.” Mr Gandhi also elaborated on his yatra saying, “The objective of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is social and economic justice, to raise issues. We started the yatra in Manipur, because there has been gross injustice in Manipur. 

For the first time an Indian state has witnessed violence for months and the PM and the BJP people have not even visited. Now, we are in Nagaland, where commitments were made to the people by the PM, but not fulfilled.”

He asserted, “The yatra is an ideological yatra to place several issues of injustice on the table. There will be an election campaign… but the yatra is to place certain ideas on the table… an alternative vision to what the BJP says.”