New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday blamed the Congress for giving a political colour to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya by not attending it. Sarma, who leads a BJP-led coalition in the state, said that the rest of the country sees the event as a celebration of India’s culture and heritage.


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He made this remark after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said in Nagaland that his party finds it hard to participate in the January 22 ceremony as the BJP and the RSS have made it a “political event” focused on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be present there.


“Rahul Gandhi could have gone there and it would have remained a non-political event. We welcome you to join us in this auspicious occasion. But you and your colleagues have chosen to stay away, thus making it a political issue which it was not,” Sarma said at a press meet.


Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior leaders ‘respectfully declined’ the invitation to the ceremony at Ayodhya, alleging that the BJP is using it as a ‘political project’ for electoral benefits and claiming that religion is a ‘personal affair’.


“Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are politicising the event because of their anti-Hindu mindset. Only the Congress party is tarnishing an event which is otherwise seen as a victory of Indian civilisation,” Sarma added.


Rahul Gandhi, who was in Nagaland for Bharati Jodo Nyay Yatra, said that the BJP and the RSS are adding an “election flavour” to the event and that is why Congress cannot attend it.


“Everyone will go, pay respects to Ram Lalla and come back. I don’t think anyone will give any political or anti-Congress speech. For others, it is a triumph of Indian civilisation,” Sarma said.