'Temples Not Govt's Business': Shashi Tharoor On Ayodhya Ram Temple Invite

Kerela MP's comments were made in response to questions about the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram temple on January 22.

"Was interrogated by the waiting press, wanting to know if I would be going to Ayodhya on January 22. I told them I hadn’t been invited but I saw religion as a personal attribute and not one for political (mis)use," he wrote on X.

Taking to social media, Tharoor said that by making the inauguration event of the Ram temple in Ayodhya such a big news story, the media is playing into the hands of those seeking political gains from the event.

"I also pointed out that by making such a major news story of the event, which has been known about for some time already, the media was playing into the hands of those who want to milk political benefit from the Ram Mandir while distracting the public from their governance failures," he said.

Background:

With less than a month to go for the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in 2024, a debate over who will be attending the ceremony has gained attention.

The event, scheduled for January 22 and to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is now a focal point in the lead-up to the impending Lok Sabha polls, just four months away.

Invitations have been sent out to religious leaders and actors, adding to the curiosity about who from the Opposition will participate.?

From the Opposition, among those invited are Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. However, the party has not confirmed their attendance yet.