We’re Pujaris While BJP is Vyapari of Ram, states Jairam Ramesh: The General Secretary of the Congress party, Jairam Ramesh, has recently sparked controversy with his remarks defending the party’s decision to decline the invitation for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, held on January 22, 2024. Ramesh’s statement comes amidst criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who accused the Congress of being political opportunists.
‘Ram’ is in My Name – We’re Pujaris While BJP is Vyapari of Ram, states Jairam Ramesh (Image Source: Google Creative Commons Licenses)
The issue gained momentum after Prime Minister Modi criticized Congress during a Lok Sabha election rally in Chhattisgarh, accusing the party of declining the invite and taking action against dissenters within its ranks.
In an interview with ANI, on his birthday today, Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of politicizing religion and alleged that it diminishes both religion and politics. Ramesh went on to describe the BJP as “(vyapari) traders of Ram,” while portraying Congress members as “(pujari) worshippers” of the deity.
Key Points from the Interview
Here are the key points from his interview:
- Ramesh highlighted that Congress respectfully declined the invitation for the Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram’s Ayodhya Temple in January this year because it was a ‘political event’ for ‘a political person’.
- He labelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as”vyapari (traders) of Ram” while Congress members are “pujari (worshippers)” of Lord Ram.
- He further added that it should be noted that my name is ‘Jairam Ramesh’ – both parts of my name have ‘Ram’. No one can call us (Congress) anti-Ram.
- Ramesh said that responding to these accusations, Congress had officially issued a statement in January, clarifying its stance on the matter. The party emphasized its adherence to the 2019 Supreme Court judgment regarding the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute and expressed reservations about the event being perceived as an RSS/BJP affair.
Way Forward
As the political discourse intensifies ahead of upcoming elections, Jairam Ramesh’s statements underscore the deep-rooted ideological differences between the BJP and Congress regarding the role of religion in politics. The contrasting narratives presented by both parties highlight the complex dynamics of identity, ideology, and governance in India’s socio-political landscape. It remains to be seen how these differing perspectives will influence voter sentiment and shape the future trajectory of Indian politics.
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