Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Yadav have joined the list of opposition leaders declining an invitation to attend the ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
At 75, Lalu Yadav’s decision comes as a notable stance in the lead-up to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir. Earlier, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar also conveyed his decision to skip the event, citing plans to visit the temple at a later date.
In a letter addressed to the General Secretary of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, Champat Rai, Pawar stated, “After the Pran Pratistha ceremony is completed on January 22, I will freely take out time and come for darshan, and by then, the construction work of the Ram temple will also be completed.”
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed his intention to visit the temple with his family post the inauguration event. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee announced her plans for a ‘Sarba Dharma’ (interfaith) rally on January 22, rather than attending the temple ceremony.
The Congress party also affirmed that its leaders would not be part of the event, asserting that it had transformed into a political gathering orchestrated by the BJP and RSS, diverting from its religious essence.
While the opposition leaders stand firm in their decisions, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has labeled these refusals as actions by “anti-Ram” organizations. The Pran Pratistha event in Ayodhya is witnessing extensive preparations, with over 7,000 attendees, including politicians, industrialists, saints, and celebrities, expected. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to be the Chief Guest, and representatives from nearly 100 countries are also expected to attend the consecration ceremony.
As the seven-day rituals commence ahead of the grand opening, the opposition’s varied responses contribute to the nuanced dynamics surrounding the significant event in Ayodhya.