It's BJP vs Oppn as Ram Navami Turns Into Latest Battleground Two Days Before Voting

The ‘mandir’ politics has heated up with just two days left for the first phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections. As BJP leaders felt elated to see ‘Ram Lalla’ in his “permanent home” in Ayodhya temple on the occasion of Ram Navami, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders slammed the ruling party for “politicising faith” and “diverting from real issues of unemployment, inflation”.

Rahul Gandhi, at press conference with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “sometimes going under water and flying on other occasions but not talking about real issues.” Gandhi was referring to PM Modi’s visit to Gujarat in February, where he went underwater, in the deep sea, and prayed at the site where the submerged city of Dwarka is.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X, on the auspicious day and said that this is a day crores of Indians waited for as innumerable people devoted their lives to this sacred cause.

Home Minister Amit Shah also wished people on occasion and said that celebrating the birth anniversary of the Lord after 500 years in the temple of his birthplace, is a matter of pride for all Ram devotees.

Congress Calls BJP ‘Traders of Ram’

Meawhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a dig at the saffron party on Wednesday and called the ruling party ‘he traders of that Maryada Purushottam Ram’.

Taking to X, the senior Congress leader said, “Congratulations and best wishes to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Shri Ram Navami. Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram had sacrificed his power to keep his word. Today, the traders of that Maryada Purushottam Ram are sacrificing their word every day to stay in power.”

AAP Launches ‘Ram Rajya Website’

On the other hand, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, while addressing a press conference on the launch of ‘AAP ka Ram Rajya’ website said, “On the occasion of Ram Navami, we are launching a website ‘AAP ka Ram Rajya’. Arvind Kejriwal has done amazing work to fulfil the dream of ‘Ram Rajya’ in Delhi and has presented an example to the world.”

He further said that this is the first Ram Navami on which Arvind Kejriwal is not with the people and is in jail.

The website has been launched as part of Lok Sabha poll campaign, in order to highlight Kejriwal government’s work, said party leader Atishi.

Ram Navami Politics Heat Up in Bengal

In Bengal politics, the debate on Ram Navami took the centre stage after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attacked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for “trying to obstruct BJP’s Ram Navami’s plan and opposing CAA”.

The TMC, on the other hand, will be conducting a Ram Navami ‘shobha yatra’ in Howrah on Wednesday.

Addressing  a public meeting in Balurghat in South Dinajpur, the Prime Minister said, “This is the first Ram Navami when Ram Lalla has been enthroned in the grand temple in Ayodhya. I know the TMC, as always, has tried its best to stop the Ram Navami celebrations and hatched several conspiracies. But only the truth wins. Therefore, permission has been granted by the court and Ram Navami processions will be taken out tomorrow with full reverence and devotion. I congratulate all my brothers and sisters of Bengal on this occasion.”

Meanwhile, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya also took to X and said that the last year in Ramnavami, West Bengal witnessed large scale violence.

He alleged that it was so because Mamata Banerjee gave provocative communal speeches, just before the celebrations.

He further said, “But just six days later, on Hanuman Utsav, there was no violence, after Calcutta HC, on plea of@BJP4Bengal, ordered deployment of central forces. Recently, NIA arrested several people, many affiliated to the TMC, for the violence on Ramnavami. Therefore, the onus of maintaining peace in West Bengal, on the occasion of Ramnavami, rests entirely on Mamata Banerjee. India is watching.”