Politics

TMC MP Kirti Azad Criticises BJP’s Ram Temple References, Declares No Plans to Visit

By Abhishek Mishra

Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday for its repeated references to the Ram Temple, accusing the party of using religious sentiment for political gain. Azad said he had visited the Kamakhya Temple but had never been to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and has no intention of doing so in the future. His remarks come amid a political row over Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav’s proposed visit to the Ram Mandir and Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya on December 12. The BJP has called the visit a political exercise ahead of the elections and accused Yadav of seeking electoral mileage through visits to prominent religious sites. Speaking to IANS, Azad questioned why the BJP repeatedly invoked the Ram Temple and accused the party of misusing temple donations. "I do not understand why this Bharatiya Janata Party, which is involved in extortion and stealing donations, keeps talking about the Ram Temple. I have not visited the Ram Temple; I have visited the Kamakhya Temple. Are they suggesting that a person is not a Hindu if they worship Goddess Kamakhya? I worship Goddess Kamakhya, but I have not visited the Ram Temple," he said. Referring to Goddess Sita’s birthplace and the episode of her Agni Pariksha, Azad questioned the circumstances surrounding her subsequent abandonment. "I belong to the birthplace of Mata Sita. Mata Sita had to undergo the Agni Pariksha, and even after passing it, she was abandoned. Is it right for any human being to treat his wife this way – to make her undergo the Agni Pariksha and then abandon her even after she passes it? This is not right. I visit Kamakhya Temple and Tripura Sundari Temple. Does that mean I am not a Hindu?" the TMC MP said. Reiterating his stance, Azad told IANS, "I have not gone to Ram Temple, nor will I ever go. I’ll go to Mathura." He further accused the BJP of exploiting religious sentiments for political purposes and said the party had failed to establish the ideals of Ram Rajya in the country. "They are doing this for politics and are orchestrating robberies and thefts at every temple. They do not have any other issue than Ram. The BJP has not brought Ram Rajya but Ravan Rajya in the country," he added.