Sonia Gandhi likely to attend Ram Temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya

New Delhi: The Congress Party appears to be caught in a Hamletian dilemma over attending the inauguration of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya on January 22. Rumours spread thick and fast on Friday morning that Mrs Sonia Gandhi was all set to attend the inauguration since giving it a miss could possibly weaponise the BJP to target the Congress and INDIA bloc as “anti-Hindu”.  However, AICC general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh clarified that “no final decision has yet been taken”, but that the “party was considering the issue”.

He said: “Congress Parliamentary Party chairman Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge have been invited to the inauguration of the Ram Temple. A decision will be taken at an appropriate time, and communicated at an appropriate time.”

So far, in the INDIA bloc, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has been categorical in saying “no” to the invite. Sources said “to attend or not to attend would be a crucial political decision for the Congress”.

Trinamul Congress leaders said their supremo, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, is unlikely to attend the event. They view the function as a “political agenda” of the BJP to further its prospects. Muslim League leaders are also uneasy about the Congress’ ambivalence over the invite. However, JMM supremo and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren said he would attend the ceremony provided he gets an invite.

NCP supremo Sharad Pawar was cautious in his remarks, stating: “Don’t know if it (BJP) is using the issue for political or commercial purposes. We are happy that the temple is coming up, for which many have contributed.” He mentioned that he has not received an invite, but added: “I visit two-three places of faith that I don’t speak about in public. It’s a private matter.” Samajwadi Party leaders have said that if invited, its leaders will attend the programme.

The Ram Mandir inauguration has caught the INDIA bloc off guard. The parties do not have a well-articulated position on the issue and are trying to put on a balancing act. The question being faced by them is that they do not want to be seen as anti-Hindu on the one hand, but also do not want to be caught in the BJP’s political games.