Narendra Modi invokes Lord Ram at Faizabad rally, Congress wants EC to act

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

Lucknow: Accusing BJP of invoking the Ram Temple issue for political gains, the Congress is going to file a complaint with the Election Commission against it for using Lord Ram`s image in the background of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi`s rally in Faizabad on Monday. Notably, Modi today invoked the name of Lord Ram in his election speech and urged the people to vote out the "corrupt and incompetent Congress government at the Centre". He accused the Congress of belying the hopes of the people, breaking its promise to create 10 crore jobs in five years and failing to bring down inflation in 100 days. Modi said he will never break his promise of ushering in good times for the people of the country. Speaking against the backdrop of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya, Modi also urged the people not to vote for the mother-son government, referring to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi. Interestingly, the stage at Modi`s rally had a huge poster of the Hindu deity in the background. This held significance as Faizabad is just five kilometres away from Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram and the centre of the BJP`s Hindutva campaign in the 1980s and 90s. During today`s rally, hundreds of Narendra Modi`s supporters were heard chanting `Jai Shri Ram` as the BJP`s prime ministerial candidate delivered his speech. However, the use of Lord Ram`s image in the background caught the attention of ruling Congress party, which accused the BJP of always trying to invoke the Ram temple issue for political gains. Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, “BJP always uses Ram Mandir issue for political mileage.” The Election Commission has now sought a report from the district office on the usage of the deity`s picture as religious symbols are banned during poll campaigns. Though, Modi has remained focussed on corruption and development throughout his election campaign and has refrained from addressing a rally in Ayodhya to avoid more attack by his rivals, it seems that the Sangh Parivar is covertly trying to bring the Ram temple issue to the centrestage. Lallu Singh is the BJP candidate from the temple town and is pitted against the Congress`s state president Nirmal Khatri, who is a sitting MP. In the staggered Lok Sabha polls, Faizabad goes to polls May 7.