It is doubtful if PM Modi observed fast for 11 days ahead of Ram temple consecration: Veerappa Moily
Bengaluru, Jan 23: The Congress in Karnataka on Tuesday termed the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya a 'political event' and expressed scepticism about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fast for 11 days ahead of the Prana Pratishtha' ceremony.
Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he worshipped Mahatma Gandhi's Rama and not the BJP's Rama' at the newly built Ayodhya temple in UP.
Asked whether he has plans similar to the BJP to send three crore pilgrims to Ayodhya, Siddaramaiah wondered whether there was no Rama in the temples in Karnataka.
"Aren't the Rama temples in the Karnataka villages true Rama temples? Don't the idols there belong to Sriramachandra, Sita, Lakshmana and Anjaneya? The BJP is out to do politics around Rama temple in Ayodhya. Our objection is to their politics," he said.
The Chief Minister said, "We love, respect and worship Mahatma Gandhi's Rama, Ramayana's Rama and Dasharath's son Sri Ramachandra, not the BJP's Rama."
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Former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily expressed doubt over the claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi observed fast for 11 days ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple.
"During a morning walk today, a doctor, who was accompanying me said it is not possible for anyone to survive for 11 days without food. If someone has survived then it is a miracle. Hence, it is doubtful that he (Modi) observed fast," he told media in Chikkaballapura.
"If he (Modi) had done Pooja in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple without observing fast then that place will become impure and will not generate (supernatural) power. He (Modi) says he has observed fast for 11 days and survived only on tender coconut. There were no signs of fatigue on his face. People and not me are questioning whether he observed fast or not," Moily, a former union minister said.
He was curious to know what agenda BJP will have after exhausting the Ram temple issue.
"They (BJP) came to power in various states in the last 25 years saying they will install Ram statue. Now the temple is ready. What next?" Moily wondered.
Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said he does not have devotion' as he believed in Janata Janardan' (God in people) and Indian constitution.
"I will go there (to Ayodhya) if Saheb' asks me. I go (on pilgrimage) if I am interested to learn something. Did anyone invite me to go to Varanasi or directed me to go to Rishikesh? I went there (pilgrimage centres) on my own to learn," Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, said in a press conference.
"I don't have devotion. What can I do? I believe in Janata Janardan'. I am a devotee of the Constitution. There is scope for everyone in the Constitution," he noted.
Kharge took a dig at the BJP leaders, stating that they have been saying that they are not politicising the Ram temple.
However, now the BJP leaders should explain why they want to take three crore pilgrims to Ayodhya.
"Let them take the pilgrims. After all, it's pilgrimage only. May good things happen to the pilgrims. Let them go there and realise the true colours of the BJP," he quipped.
The Minister said the Karnataka government does not have plans now to send the pilgrims to Ayodhya.
"We are already providing all sorts of subsidies. The Hindu Religious Endowment Minister can give the details. We are working to offer Rama Rajya in Karnataka," he explained.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar slammed the BJP leaders for their comments on Siddaramaiah raising Jai Sri Ram' slogan at the inauguration of a Ram temple on Monday.
"Is Lord Rama the personal property of BJP? Rama is no one's property. What did Mahatma Gandhi say: Raghupati Raghava Rajaram, Patit Paavan Sitaram," he pointed out.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said, "There is Rama in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's name and Shiva as well as Shiva's son Kumar in my name Shivakumar'.
Noting that the BJP leaders have no other issue left with them, Shivakumar said the BJP leaders were somehow trying to portray Congress as 'anti-Hindu'.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
ALSO READ: Cong candidate who moved Kerala HC for name reinstatement in voter list, wins
Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
