Amethi (UP), Jan 13 (PTI) Union minister Smriti Irani on Saturday attacked the Congress for declining the invitation to attend the Ram temple consecration ceremony, saying the party had no problem till Ram Lalla was placed in a tent but its leaders are “feeling pain” now when a grand temple has come up.
Asking people to light ‘diyas’ on January 22 and help the poor, Irani, without taking any name, also said that “the same people who bowed their heads at Babar’s tomb are rejecting the invitation of the consecration ceremony”.
On the third day of her visit to her constituency, the women and child development minister was interacting with the media after a ‘Jan Samvad’ programme in Tikri village.
“As long as Ram Lalla was placed in the tent, the Congress had no problem. Today when the ‘Pran Pratistha’ of Ram Lalla idol is taking place in the temple, there is pain in the hearts of Congress leaders. Ram devotees showed patience for 500 years…the auspicious moment has come after a long wait on January 22,” the Amethi MP said.
To a question on attack on three sadhus in West Bengal, Irani said where there is the government of constituent of INDIA alliance, the persecution of people who believe in Sanatan Dharma is increasing.
The INDIA bloc parties talk and work in an insulting manner towards religion and display the values of the Congress, especially of the Gandhi family, she alleged.
A purported video of three monks being attacked by a mob in West Bengal’s Purulia over suspicion that they were “kidnappers in disguise” has triggered a political row. The monks, who were on their way to the Gangasagar Mela, could be seen getting roughed up by a group of people in Kashipur.
“It is a matter of good fortune for me to distribute the worshipped ‘akshat’ among the devotees of Lord Ram. It would also be appropriate to say that all those who have the good fortune will light lamps and celebrate the day in their houses and provide cleanliness service in temples. Wherever Ram devotees have a feeling of service, they should do it according to the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Irani said.
She also listened to the problems of the people in Sardan, Pindoria, and Dalshahpur villages through the Jan Samvad programme and directed the officials concerned for resolving them.
In Pindoria village, a girl presented a picture of Ram temple to Irani and got her photo clicked.
“Shri Ram Temple is the result of 500 years of ‘tapasya’ of our ancestors. We all will celebrate a grand Deepotsav on January 22 and after that we will visit the grand temple,” she said.
In the programme, slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ were raised. PTI COR SAB KVK KVK
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