"Unforgivable...has hurt sentiments of Hindus": Yediyurappa on Congress declining Ram Temple invitation

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], January 11 : With the Congress declining the invitation for the Ram Mandir "inauguration ceremony," calling it a "BJP/RSS event," BJP leader BS Yediyurappa on Thursday slammed the party, calling its decision "unforgivable" which "has hurt sentiments of millions of Hindus".
The pran prathishta of Lord Rama idol in the grand temple in Ayodhya will be held on January 22.
"Rama idol is being installed on a special occasion in Ram Mandir. It is a bad thing that they are refusing to attend special occasion," the former Karnataka Chief Minister said.
"I condemn the stand of the Congress. It is an unforgivable and wrong decision that has hurt the sentiments of millions of Hindus. A time will come when those who do not regard good work will repent," he added.
The decision of the Congress leaders not to attend the inauguration of the Ram Mandir is very unfortunate, Yediyurappa said.
"Everyone's wish is the same, that our state should become Lord Rama's state...Let them first clarify why they don't want to attend the Ram Mandir opening ceremony."
The BJP leader said he wishes that God gives Congress leaders better sense.
The Congress said on Wednesday that Lord Ram is worshipped by millions of people in the country and religion is a personal matter.
"But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain," the party said.
"While abiding by the 2019 Supreme Court judgment and honouring the sentiments of millions who revere Lord Ram, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury have respectfully declined the invitation to what is clearly an RSS/BJP event," it added.
Karnataka BJP leader CT Ravi said the Congress has always been against Hindutva.
"Congress has always been against Hindutva. Somnath Temple was reconstructed by Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, Babu Rajendra Prasad, and KM Munshi. Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister during that time. He didn't visit Somanth. So how can the present leadership of Congress go to Ayodhya?" he asked.
"First, they were crying that they did not receive an invitation, and when they did, they refused to accept," he said.
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi also slammed Congress for declining the invitation to attend for Ram Temple event.
He claimed that the public is increasingly distancing itself from the Congress party due to such decisions.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sangh Parivar leaders of disrespecting Lord Ram and the nation's 140 crore people by politicising a religious event.
He emphasised the Congress party's consistent support for the construction of Ram Mandir and respecting the court's verdict.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also slammed the BJP for going ahead with "inauguration of an incomplete temple".
"Much to think about as the nation braces itself for the Jan 22 inauguration by a political leader of an incomplete temple, with priests relegated to supporting roles in a pre-election political spectacle," Tharoor said in a post on X.
Preparations are underway in full swing for the Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' on January 22, which will be attended by dignitaries and people from all walks of life.