Ahead of MP assembly elections, BJP and Congress spar over Ayodhya Ram temple
Bhopal (PTI): A war of words has erupted in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh after the Congress objected to the ruling BJP putting up hoardings taking credit for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The BJP said the Congress was "pained over the construction of the Ram temple", while the opposition party accused the former of "going astray from the devotion to Lord Ram".
Earlier this week, the Indore unit of Congress complained to the Election Commission of India (ECI) that the BJP, in violation of the model code of conduct, used religious symbols during poll campaigning by showcasing the Ayodhya Ram temple and Mahakal Lok in Ujjain.
Sharing the Congress' complaint on their X handles, BJP leaders accused it of being "anti-Ram".
State BJP chief VD Sharma on Saturday said at a press conference that the basic character of Congress has been against "Lord Shri Ram, Hindutva and Sanatan Dharm".
The Congress is complaining to ECI against the hoardings of Ram temple, which is the centre of faith not only in India but also in the world, said Sharma.
"They are saying that such hoardings should be removed... Congress is pained as to why the hoardings of Ram Mandir have been put up... They are pained by the construction of Ram temple," he said.
Sharma said that the Ram temple is the centre of faith for 9.5 crore people of the state.
"You (Congress) should also put up such hoardings. Who stopped you? Your leader (Kamal Nath) is saying that Ram temple is for all," he said, accusing the Congress of playing appeasement politics.
The BJP leader said that the Congress is pained because the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple will be held on January 22, 2024, in Ayodhya because of the "willpower" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier on Friday, MP Congress chief Kamal Nath had said that the Ram temple belongs to all.
"Does the Ram temple belong to BJP? This temple belongs to the citizens of the country," Nath said.
On the other hand, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed that the Congress used to submit an affidavit in the court denying the existence of Lord Ram and terming him "imaginary".
"After seeing the people's faith in Lord Ram, they (Congress) are becoming Ram bhakt (devotees of Lord Ram), reciting his bhajans' and Hanuman Chalisa'," Chouhan said while talking to reporters in Chhatarpur on Friday.
Congress general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Randeep Surjewala on Saturday said that Ram is Maryada Purushottam' and a symbol of love, devotion, faith and sacrifice.
"How can Lord Ram be a subject of politics? Can there be any party of Lord Shri Ram? Those who deviated from the path of devotion and whose intellect has also become corrupt should sit at the feet of Lord Ram to get some wisdom. Lord Shri Ram cannot be the subject of partisan politics," Surjewala said in reply to a question at a press conference in Bhopal.
The polling for the 230 seats of Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17.
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'Creator of modern India': Cong pays tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru on birth anniversary
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Thursday paid rich tributes to India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi saying his democratic, progressive and inclusive values are the cornerstone of India and will always remain so.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hailed Nehru as the architect of modern India and the one who took India from zero to the peak.
Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also paid floral tributes to Nehru at his memorial 'Shantivan' here.
India's first and longest-serving prime minister, Nehru was born on this date in 1889 in Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad (now Prayagraj). He was one of the leading faces of the country's freedom struggle. He breathed his last on May 27, 1964.
In a post in Hindi on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "Respectful tribute to the creator of modern India, creator of institutions, first Prime Minister of India, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, on his birth anniversary. Democratic, progressive, fearless, visionary, inclusive ' these values ''of 'Hind Ke Jawahar' are our ideal and the cornerstone of India and will always remain so."
In his post in Hindi on X, Kharge said, "On the 135th birth anniversary of 'Hind ke Jawahar', the architect of modern India, the one who took India from zero to the peak, the one who made India develop in scientific, economic, industrial and various fields, the one who constantly gave the message of 'unity in diversity' to the country, the fearless sentinel of democracy and our source of inspiration, we remember his unprecedented contribution to the country."
He also shared an excerpt from Nehru's 'The Discovery of India'.
Priyanka Gandhi shared a quote by Nehru which states that fear is the foundation of all the evils in the world.
"When we achieved independence after decades of struggle and countless sacrifices, there were still people who used to play the politics of scaring and misleading the innocent public. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji fought them bravely and told the common people - 'Daro Mat (Do not be afraid)'!"
"People who spread fear among the public cannot be true representatives of the public. Public servants stand in the forefront with their heads held high so that people can live without fear. Pandit Nehru ji always taught the people to be fearless and serve without fear, and on the other hand kept the public supreme at every stage of nation building," she said in her post in Hindi on X.
She hailed him as "the creator of modern India".
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh recalled that on November 14, 1949, India's prime minister was presented with an Abhinandan Granth as he turned 60.
"The Editorial Board for the preparation of this magnificent 700-page volume had some of the most distinguished names in Indian public life as members-- Rajendra Prasad, Puroshottamdas Tandon, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, K.M. Munshi, Govind Das, Vishwanath More, Nandalal Bose, S.H. Vatsyayan, and Lanka Sundaram. Over a hundred personalities and scholars from across the world contributed to the Granth," he said.
Governor General C Rajagopalachari's opening was very brief but was, as always, telling and conveyed much, Ramesh said.
"Then came the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who laid bare his heart and revealed the true meaning of his relationship with the Prime Minister. This was some eight months after the Prime Minister had unveiled a statue of the Sardar in Godhra," he recalled.
"There has been so much written by and on him that it is timely that the Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund (JNMF) has just announced its initiative to create a cutting-edge, multimedia digital archive. The archive will be launched on November 14, 2025," Ramesh said in his post on X.
Congress general secretary, in-charge organisation, K C Venugopal also paid rich tributes to Nehru on the occasion of his birth anniversary, hailing him as the architect of modern India, the visionary that laid the foundation of our republic, and the world leader who was truly admired by every nation across the globe.
"His unique role in our history, of being a crucial part of the freedom struggle and then leading independent India for nearly two decades, makes his contributions truly remarkable especially because of the values he upheld during his time," Venugopal said.
His unflinching commitment to democratic principles, secularism and welfare of the poor and marginalised was the hallmark of his governance and will continue to inspire us for generations to come, he said on X.
The Congress, on its official X handle, said Nehru, envisioned India's destiny and shaped it through his relentless pursuit of freedom, democracy and progress.
"He laid the foundation for a modern and self-reliant India, giving her the wings to reach for the stars," the party said.
"Today, we honour his unmatched & exemplary legacy," it added.
