Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader, has ignited a political controversy with his remarks about the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, which took place on January 22. In a recent speech, he referred to the event as a “dance-sing” occasion, suggesting that it was more about entertainment than spirituality.
In a 27-second video clip, Gandhi criticized the event for being exclusive to celebrities and wealthy individuals, stating, “They invited Amitabh Bachchan, Adani, Ambani, but they didn’t invite a single labourer. Has anyone seen the farmer, the labourer? Nach-Gana Chal Stay” (meaning “there was song and dance going on”). His comments were aimed at highlighting the disparity between the elite guests at the ceremony and the common people who were not represented.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly condemned Gandhi’s remarks. BJP leader Tirath Singh Rawat suggested that Gandhi did not understand Indian culture and rituals, emphasizing that ordinary people were indeed involved in the celebrations . National spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla called Gandhi’s comments “sad” and accused him of having anti-Hindu sentiments. He questioned whether such comments could be made about any other faith’s sacred events and pointed out that Gandhi’s family has historically opposed Hindu traditions .
In response to the backlash, Congress party members defended Gandhi. MP Manikam Tagore stated that while celebrities were allowed into the main venue of the ceremony, local residents had to wait outside. He argued that Gandhi was merely exposing how the event was closed off to ordinary people while favoring the rich .
This incident reflects ongoing tensions between political parties in India regarding religious events and representation.
