‘I won’t go’: Lalu Prasad to skip Ram Temple opening ceremony; Nitish Kumar yet to announce his decision | India News

NEW DELHI: Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad, who had in 1990 stopped L K Advani’s “Rath Yatra” for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, will not attend the consecration ceremony on January 22. “I won’t go,” was Lalu’s curt reply when he was asked if he planned to visit Ayodhya for the Pran Pratistha of the grand temple, which will happen in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The RJD chief did not give any reason for his decision to not attend the event.
Advani, who was one of the most powerful BJP leaders then, had set out on a Rath Yatra on September 25, 1990, from Somnath in Gujarat to campaign for a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Advani was supposed to reach Ayodhya on October 30 to participate in “kar seva” to start building the temple. However, on October 23, he was arrested in Samastipur on the orders of Lalu Yadav and was prevented from proceeding to Ayodhya.
While Lalu has made its stand clear, there is still suspense over what Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) national president Nitish Kumar will do? Nitish has also been extended an invitation to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram, but is yet to announce his decision.
“Nitish will take his own decision on whether he will attend the grand event in Ayodhya later this month or not,” JD(U)leader KC Tyagi had said last week.
It will be interesting to see what Nitish Kumar, who snapped his ties with the BJP, decides to do.
The Congress, which is also a partner of the ruling alliance in Bihar, has also announced its decision to skip the event calling it a “political project for electoral gains.” Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Adhir Chowdhury had “respectfully declined” the invite to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
‘Thankful for invite, but will visit after Jan 22’
Sharad Pawar, the president of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has said that he would visit Ayodhya to offer prayers to Lord Ram after the completion of the temple construction there.
In a letter to Champat Rai, general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Pawar said he was thankful for the invitation to attend the ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony at the temple on January 22 but won’t be a part of it on that day.
“Maryada Purshottam Shri Ram is a symbol of faith and devotion. Ram bhakts will be attending the ceremony in large numbers through which the happiness will reach me. After January 22, the darshan of Ram Lalla will be easy. I am planning to visit Ayodhya and will also offer prayers to Ram Lalla. By that time, the temple construction will also be complete,” he said.
Pawar accused the BJP and the RSS of doing politics over Ram Temple.
“The shilanyas (laying of first stone) was conducted during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, but today the BJP and RSS are doing politics in the name of Lord Ram,” Pawar said.
‘Will visit Ram Temple with family after Jan 22’
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has also announced to visit Ayodhya with his family after January 22. Kejriwal, however, confirmed that he has still not received the invite for the grand ceremony.
‘Mamata to lead rally on Jan 22’
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has announced to lead a “rally for harmony” with people of all religions on the day of Ram Mandir inauguration. Mamata has accused the BJP of using the Ayodhya ceremony as a pre-poll gimmick ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.