'They Should Not Have Been Invited': Assam CM Himanta Sarma After Congress Declines Ram Temple Invite

Assam CM Sarma has accused the Congress of historical Opposition to Hindu sentiments, citing Jawaharlal Nehru's absence at the inauguration of the Somnath Temple.

NEW DELHI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma on Thursday slammed the Congress party for declining the invitation to attend the 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Reacting strongly, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his disapproval, stating that "Congress is against Hindus; they should not have been invited in the first place." Sarma accused the Congress of historical opposition to Hindu sentiments, citing Jawaharlal Nehru's absence at the inauguration of the Somnath Temple.

#WATCH | On Congress rejecting Ram Temple invitation, Assam CM & BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma says, "In my view, they should not have been invited at all. But VHP gave them a golden opportunity to repair some of their sins. But they missed the bus. I feel pity and sad for… pic.twitter.com/Ocx8cduM2e

— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2024

Will Implement Uniform Civil Code Too

CM Sarma also revealed plans for implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Assam, following Uttarakhand and Gujarat. He assured exemptions for the tribal community under the UCC, emphasizing the need for comprehensive legal reforms.

BJP Slams Congress Over Ram Temple Issue

Labelling the Ram Temple inauguration as an event of national significance, BJP leaders slammed Congress for turning down the invitation. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad expressed disappointment, calling it "unfortunate, painful, and shameful." Other BJP figures, including Sudhanshu Trivedi and Keshav Prasad Maurya, accused Congress of habitual boycotts and an anti-Ram stance.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh accused Congress of lacking the "moral strength" to attend the ceremony, labeling its leaders as "seasonal Hindus" who engage in religious posturing for electoral gains. Union Minister Smriti Irani accused the INDI Alliance of having an anti-Sanatana mindset.

Congress Defends Decision

In response to the backlash, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah defended Congress, stating that they are not against Lord Ram but opposed to the BJP's politicization of the issue. The party clarified its position, citing the event as an RSS/BJP project and stating that its leaders declined the invitation out of respect for the 2019 Supreme Court judgment.