BENGALURU: Criticising the BJP for ‘politicising’ the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that Lord Ram does not belong to any political party, and added that Congress is also ‘devoted’ to Lord Ram.
“Sri Ramachandra should not be confined to any political party’s agenda. We refute the narrative that we are against Sri Ramachandra. We are also devoted to Lord Ram,” Siddaramaiah said after inaugurating a temple at Bidarahalli in Anekal taluk, dedicated to Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman, and Lord Lakshman.
Siddaramaiah said that the temple was built, not for political reasons, but out of genuine devotion to Lord Ram. He said that while he is planning to visit Ayodhya in the future, the essence of Lord Ram remains the same everywhere, and the act of building the temple in Bidarahalli is not a political statement.
“I am not an atheist, I am a theist. I am delighted to take part in this event. I will go to Ayodhya too. Gandhiji too was a Ram bhakt. Didn’t he say ‘Raghupathi Raghava Raja Ram, Patita Pavana Sita Ram”? he questioned. “I have also built a Ram temple in my village. Isn’t Ram the same everywhere? Whether you offer puja to Ram in Ayodhya or in my village, it is the same”, he said.
Highlighting the ongoing events in Ayodhya, it was noted that not all states observed a holiday, and the central government announced a holiday for only half a day. “Did the governments in West Bengal, Delhi and Kerala declare a holiday? The event happened in Uttar Pradesh”, he said, justiying the state government’s move not to declare a holiday.
The CM criticized the BJP for “falsely” portraying opposition parties as against Lord Ram. He also accused the BJP of trying to obstruct the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that is currently travelling through Assam. Accusing the BJP of having malicious intentions, he alleged that the BJP is hindering a peaceful padayatra.
Siddaramaiah concluded his speech with the slogan ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and exhorted the crowd also to chant the slogan.