Sonia Gandhi, Kharge Invited To Ram Temple Event But May Not Attend: Report

Top leaders of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and others have been invited to attend the consecration event of Ayodhya Ram Mandir on January 22.

Top leaders of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and others have been invited to attend the consecration event of Ayodhya Ram Mandir on January 22. ( Image Source :PTI )

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and party leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have received invitations for the 'Pran Pratistha' or the consecration event of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya which is slated to take place on January 22. According to sources, the invitations were sent to the leaders individually by Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, reported news agency PTI. However, the sources added that the senior Congress leaders are unlikely to attend the consecration ceremony.

Former Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda had also received invitations for the ceremony. A delegation of those associated with the Trust delivered the invitation to the former Prime Ministers. As per PTI, more invitations are expected to be sent over to other opposition leaders in the coming days.

Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust told PTI that the invitations had been extended to revered saints from different traditions along with all prominent individuals contributing to the honour of the country across all domains.

Around 4,000 saints from across sections have been invited to participate in the ceremony. 

Earlier on Tuesday, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) said that it has extended invitation to BJP veterans Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi for the consecration ceremony. This development came after a backlash following the remark of Ram Temple Trust general secretary Champat Rai stating that both veterans of the saffron party were 'requested' not to come due to their old age.

The VHP in a tweet said, "Invited respected Lal Krishna Advani ji and respected Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi ji, the pioneer of Ram Mandir movement, to attend the Pran Pratishtha program of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on 22 January 2024."

हिंदुत्व के पुरोधा, श्रेष्ठ विचारक डॉ मुरली मनोहर जोशी से 17 दिसंबर को राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के अखिल भारतीय सम्पर्क प्रमुख श्री राम लाल जी व विश्व हिंदू परिषद के अंतराष्ट्रीय कार्याध्यक्ष श्री आलोक कुमार ने 22 जनवरी 2023 के श्री राम प्राण-प्रतिष्ठा अयोध्या के कार्यक्रम के लिए… pic.twitter.com/i1lmEWQjeV

— Vishva Hindu Parishad -VHP (@VHPDigital) December 19, 2023