As the inauguration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya approaches, scheduled for January 22, 2024, political tensions have risen over the guest list for the historic event. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath set to attend, controversies surround the exclusions and the notable absences.
Opposition Leaders Snubbed: Expressing Discontent Over Invitations
Leaders from the opposition parties have voiced their disappointment over not receiving invitations to the significant event. Sharad Pawar, Chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), expressed his discontent, questioning whether the BJP is using the ceremony for political gains. Similarly, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat revealed their decisions to skip the event, citing concerns about the politicization of a religious program.
Kapil Sibal, a veteran leader, asserted his indifference to attending the ceremony, stating, “I have Lord Ram in my heart.” Meanwhile, Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have been invited, but sources suggest their attendance is uncertain.
Guest List Highlights: Renowned Personalities and Political Figures Invited
Renowned personalities from various fields have made it to the guest list. Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, actors Amitabh Bachchan, Arun Govil, and Dipika Chikhlia, along with business tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, are set to attend. However, veteran BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are unlikely to participate.
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has extended invitations to former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda, emphasizing inclusivity. The list also includes RSS Head Mohan Bhagwat, Baba Ramdev, and industrialist Ratan Tata.
Diverse Gathering: Judges, Scientists, Artists, and Saints to Attend
The guest list is diverse, featuring judges, scientists, writers, poets, saints, priests, Shankaracharyas, former civil servants, retired Army officers, lawyers, musicians, and recipients of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards. Approximately 4,000 saints from different sects have also been invited to participate in the grand ceremony.
As anticipation builds for the momentous occasion, it remains to be seen how the absence of some prominent political figures will impact the overall atmosphere of the event. The convergence of diverse personalities reflects the unity in diversity that the Ram Temple aims to symbolize.
