New Delhi: Moments after the completion of the grand ceremony of Bhoomi Pujan for Ayodhya's Ram Mandir, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi broke his silence over the matter by tweeting about Lord Ram, on Wednesday.
"Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram is the manifestation of the best human qualities. He is the core of humanity in the depths of our mind," he stated in his tweet.
Gandhi further added, "Ram is love. He can never appear in disgust. Ram is compassion. He can never appear cruel. Ram is justice. He can never appear in injustice."
Congress, which always preached "secularism" and was wary of BJP's politics of playing the Ram card, cautiously welcomed Ram Mandir construction, changing it's decade-old stance over the matter so that it no longer viewed as opposed to Hindu sentiments.
Of the many voices in Congress, it's General Secretary in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra emerged as a troubleshooter for the party, issuing a statement, on Tuesday, for the groundbreaking ceremony, asserting that the occasion should be seen a "celebration of national unity, fraternity and cultural affinity."
She also stated, "Lord Ram symbolises sacrifice as also shelter. Ram belongs to both 'Sabri' as also to 'Sugriv'. Ram belongs to 'Valmiki' as also to 'Bhasa'. Ram belongs to 'Kamban' as also to 'Ezhuthachan'. Ram belongs to 'Kabir', to 'Tulsidas' and to 'Raidas'. Ram personifies each one of us."
As it explains the current mood of the party, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi, back in 1992, made a statement that if Rajiv Gandhi had been alive, Babri Masjid wouldn't have been demolished.
In 2007, the then UPA Government argued in Supreme Court that there is no historical and scientific veracity of Lord Ram. After that, BJP leader LK Advani addressed a gathering of party workers, calling the affidavit as Congress' "gravest mistake".
Now, Congress leader and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented Center in SC in 2007, tweeted over the matter, "Matter of Faith: some moments in history are destined seed, the future course of our Nation's creed."
The former Union Minister Manish Tewari also quoted the famous bhajan "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" while tweeting a congratulatory message for the fellow citizens and devotees on the construction of Ram Mandir.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also stated, in his tweet, "Lord Shri Ram epitomises justice for all, righteous conduct, fairness and firmness in all dealings, moral rectitude and courage. These values are much needed in such dark times. If they spread throughout the land, Ram Rajya would not be an occasion for triumphalist bigotry."
Madhya Pradesh's former Chief Minister Kamal Nath offered prayers and recited Hanuman Chalisa at his residence in Bhopal, just a day before the Bhoomi Pujan, and promised to send 11 silver bricks for the construction of Ram Mandir. The move was also being seen as to draw attention ahead of the assembly polls in the state.
However, Congress MP Digvijay Singh made a contradictory remark on Bhoomi Pujan, in his series of tweets, saying that the coronavirus attack on several ket BJP leaders was a consequence of not heeding to 'Sanatan Dharm' while choosing 'muhurat' for the ceremony in Ayodhya.
Congress-led Government in Chhattisgarh also announced plans to develop various religious sites which are associated with Lord Ram. It will include Chandkhuri, the maternal house of Lord Ram, Turturiya, the birthplace of Luv-Khush and Shivrinarayan area, where Lord Ram had eaten the "ber" given by Mata Shabri.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, performed the groundbreaking ceremony in Ayodhya, bringing in fruition BJP's promise of the construction of Ram Mandir, a matter which took the ruling party to the heights of power.
Also read: LK Advani said 'mandir wahin banaenge', but missing in action when it's happening
