We are for Dasharath’s Ram, not Modi or BJP’s Ram: CM Siddaramaiah, Parameshwara

BENGALURU: A day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated a temple of Sri Ramachandra in Bidarahalli on the outskirts of the city, on the same day the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol was held at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Home Minister G Parameshwara has stoked a controversy stating. “We don’t want Modi’s Ram, we want Dasharath’s Ram”.

Reacting to BJP’s criticism of Siddaramaiah chanting ‘Jai Sri Ram’ at the temple inauguration, Parameshwara defended him saying there was nothing wrong in that. “We all chanted ‘Jai Sri Ram’. If we don’t, they will oppose us, if we do, they criticise us. Then, which of this is right?” he questioned.

“All of us are Ram bhakts and we try to follow at least some of Lord Ram’s ideals. Lord Ram doesn’t belong to a handful of people. We want Dasharath’s Ram, not Modi’s Ram. We want the Ram who created Ram Rajya, not someone who follows the policy of divide-and-rule in Ram’s name”, Parameshwara said.

Reacting to the issue, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Aren’t the Ram mandirs here not Ram mandirs? Aren’t the Ram mandirs in all villages of Karnataka not Ram mandirs? Aren’t the idols there that of Sri Ram, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya? The BJP is trying to politicise the issue and we oppose their politics”.

Further, the CM said, “We honour, love and offer puja to the Rama who Mahatma Gandhi referred to, the Rama from Ramayana, king Dasharatha’s son Sri Ramachandra, not BJP’s Rama”.