"Is Ram Mandir Real Issue?" Sam Pitroda's Comment Sparks Sharp BJP Retort

As the country is preparing for the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda, kicked off a fresh controversy by raising the question about the temple, which evoked very strong reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Sam Pitroda has raised the question, stating, "Is Ram Mandir the real issue or unemployment and inflation?"

"I have no problem with any religion. It is okay to go visit the temple once in a while, but you can't make that the main platform. 40 per cent of the people vote for BJP, and 60 per cent of the people do not vote for BJP. He is everybody's Prime Minister and not a party's Prime Minister and that's the message the people of India want him to have. Talk about employment, talk about inflation, talk about science and technology and challenges. They (people) have to decide what are the real issues- is Ram Mandir the real issue? Or unemployment is a real issue. Is Ram Mandir the real issue or Inflation is a real issue?" he told ANI.

"Practice your religion but keep religion separate from politics," Mr Pitroda, also the Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, emphasised.

Reacting to this, Madhya Pradesh Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said, "How much does Sam Pitroda understand the sentiments of Indians?... He lives outside India and thinks unlike Indians. If you want to do politics in India, think like India and Indians."

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Alok Kumar also hit out at the grand old party over Mr Pitroda's statement and said that the latter's statement confirms that the Congress party maintains a distance from Lord Ram.

"The statement of Sam Pitroda that he is bothered about the celebrations across the country over Ram Temple in Ayodhya, I am surprised by it. such programmes are done by the whole community, we're not accepting govt's money for it and govt is not making any arrangements. The devoted persons are holding such programmes. This is a confirmation that Congress maintains a distance with Lord Ram," he said.

Meanwhile, launching a scathing attack on Mr Pitroda over his statement on Ram Mandir, Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi said that for these people, Lord Ram is only an imaginary character.

"These are the people for whom Lord Ram was only an imaginary character. All I can say is that people like Sam Pitroda are disconnected from this country and the ethos and values of this country. If they were connected, they would have known what Ramayan taught us, they would have understood the concept of Rama Rajya," she told ANI.

"They would also understand how invaders destroyed the Ram Temple. They tried to attack the Hindu value system. The value of the civilization of this country and the resilience that Hindus have showcased for so many centuries. He would have understood," she added.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Modi also hit out at him stating that "people like him" have no connection with the country.

"People like Sam Pitroda have no connection with India...he questioned EVM and also Ram Temple. He may not have belief in God...Lord Ram and our customs are as important as unemployment...people like Sam Pitroda have no knowledge about our culture," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. The office bearers of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Tirtha Kshetra, along with religious leaders, went to invite the Prime Minister.

Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ram temple in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, 2024--a week before the main ceremony. A Vedic priest from Varanasi Lakshmi Kant Dixit will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22.

From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahautsav. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised in which thousands will be given food.

The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram temple between 12 noon and 12:45 pm on that day. The trust has invited 4,000 saints of all sects for the ceremony.

The foundation stone of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was laid by PM Modi on August 5, 2020.

It is pertinent to note that the Supreme Court's verdict in 2019 on the Ayodhya dispute paved the way for the construction of a grand Ram temple.

Following the Supreme Court verdict, the Centre set up Shri Ram Janma Bhoomi Tirtha Kshetra' Trust to take all decisions regarding the construction of a magnificent Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The construction of the temple has been progressing at a steady pace under the supervision of the Trust. The idol of Ram Lalla will be in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)