UP Congress Leaders Offer Prayers in Ayodhya Amid ‘Anti-Hindu’ Allegation Against the Party

Ayodhya: Over 50 Congress leaders of Uttar Pradesh reached Ayodhya on Monday, took the holy dip in the Saryu river, worshipped at the Ram temple and the Hanuman Garhi shrine on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. Through this, they suggested that they were with Lord Ram while being against the BJP-led January 22 consecration ceremony.

Congress high command has declined invitations to the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony, calling the event a political event. In retaliation, the BJP termed the Congress as “anti-Hindu”.

The Congress team to Ayodhya included Rajya Sabha member Deepender Singh Hooda, national spokesperson Supriya Shirnate, general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh Avinash Pandey, and state unit president Ajay Rai.

They also had khichri prasad at the ashram of Mahant Satyendra Das, chief priest of the Ram temple.

These Congress leaders termed their Ayodhya visit as a matter of personal faith and pilgrimage, adding that Lord Ram belonged to all Hindus.

“Those trying to create a controversy over our visit believe that the god belongs to them alone and not to all Hindus around the world,” Hooda said. He said he had visited the Ram temple in Ayodhya several times in the past.

Commenting on this Ayodhya visit of Congress leaders, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister and BJP leader Keshav Prasad Maurya accused the Congress of duplicity and said, “They are doing politics in the name of God.”