Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday welcomed the Congress’s decision to stay away from the January 22 Ram Mandir consecration event at Ayodhya, even as senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa said the move would hurt the state’s ruling party.
“The decision of the party is our decision as well. We are not opposed to Sri Ramachandra. They are indulging in politics on this issue. See, they have made Sri Ramachandra a big political issue. They have made him a political property. We are opposing this,” Siddaramaiah told reporters after garlanding a statue of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Bengaluru.
Siddaramaiah also substantiated the party stand in a long message on social media. “We respect Sri Ramachandra and we worship Sri Ramachandra. We have also built Ram Temples but we are opposing the politicizing of the Rama Mandir,” he wrote in Kannada.
“Why are they going to Ayodhya? Does Sri Ramachandra not exist in this state? We are doing poojas here as well. We are not against Sri Ramachandra, we are all followers and worshippers. We have built Ram Mandirs in our villages but they are making it political and we are opposing the politics,” the chief minister added.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not have confidence to fight the polls on the basis of the achievements of his administration over the last 10 years. This is the reason why an incomplete Ram Mandir is being inaugurated in a hurry at the time of the national elections in order to create a Hindutva wave to hide the failures of the government.
“We respect the Hindu religion followed by Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda, Kanakadasa, Narayana Guru, Kuvempu and many great people of the country but we oppose the misuse of the Hindu religion by the BJP and the RSS for political purposes in the name of a fake Hindutva. We are not looking at political calculations in our stand,” Siddaramaiah said.
“In the same manner as it is the religious duty of those believing in Sri Rama to worship him every day, it is also their duty to oppose and raise a voice against the misuse of Sri Rama for political purposes. No religion hates or rejects another religion,” the chief minister stated. “My party and I are bound to the constitutional goal of making society a peaceful garden for all communities.”
‘Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah showing disrespect’
BJP leader Yediyurappa, a former chief minister, alleged that the Congress’s decision to stay away from the Ram Mandir consecration was forced by leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah.
“Despite the Congress being invited for the consecration of the Ram Mandir, they have decided not to go and this is regrettable and unfortunate. I condemn their stand. It is everyone’s hope for the creation of a Rama Rajya and that the dreams of Rama should be realised, but this decision hurts the sentiments of crores of Hindus and is an unforgivable offence. They should specify why they will not attend,” Yediyurappa said.
“Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah have got together and are attempting to show disrespect for a good event. They will regret their decision. I condemn the move and I hope that Rama gives them some good sense and that they come to their senses,” he said.