The Congress on Thursday said that it was thankful for the invitations from the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya on January 22. However, the party did not reveal whether its top brass will be in attendance at the ceremony.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury received invitations for the ceremony.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal — while addressing a press conference — said, “You will know about the party’s stand. You will know on January 22 about the participation.” Thanking the Trust for the invitation, Venugopal said, “They have invited us, we are very much thankful to them for inviting us, let us (see).”
Though, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying that the senior Congress leaders are unlikely to attend the ceremony.
Additionally, former president Pratibha Patil, former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda have also received invitations for the January 22 ceremony. Heads of all political parties are also on the invitee list.
More invitations are likely to be sent out to other opposition leaders in the coming days, sources added.
Apart from political leaders, the Trust said that revered saints from different cultures, prominent individuals contributing to the nation’s honour, have also been invited to the ceremony.
The Trust noted that over 4,000 saints from different sects have been sent invitations to participate in the ceremony.
Apart from political leaders, the Trust said that revered saints from different cultures, eminent individuals contributing to the nation’s honour in every domain, have also been invited to the ceremony.
Leaders of temples like Kashi Vishwanath, Vaishno Devi, and representatives of religious institutions like Spiritual leader Dalai Lama, yoga guru Baba Ramdev, Kerala’s Mata Amritanandamayi, have also been invited to the ceremony.
Actors Rajnikanth, Madhuri Dixit, Arun Govil, Amitabh Bachchan, film director Madhur Bhandarkar, and industrialists Mukesh and Anil Ambani are some of the other names on the invitees list.
In the new Teerthakshetrapuram (Bag Bijaisi), a Tent City has been established which includes six tube wells, six kitchen houses, and a hospital with ten beds, the Trust noted.
Preparations for the inauguration of the temple are taking place in full swing in Ayodhya. The set up is likely to be completed by January 15 before the pran pratishtha puja, which is set to begin on January 16 and conclude on January 22.
(With PTI inputs)
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