Did what they deserved? Congress flag snatched & damaged outside Ram Mandir as party leaders visit Ayodhya
Ayodhya, Jan 16: In an unusual development, chaos was unleashed outside the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on Monday after a few locals were seen snatching and vandalizing the Congress flag outside the temple, leading to a violent fight.
In a video posted by news agency ANI on X, formerly Twitter, people are seen snatching the flag and damaging it.
Ayodhya's Congress Mahila in-charge Renu Rai said to reporters, “Some anti-social elements snatched our party flag and abused our party workers. This is a shameful and condemnable act. The Mandir (Ram Mandir) belongs to everyone.”
Among those visited Ayodhya are Ajay Rai, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra and Congress national secretary in-charge Dheeraj Gurjar. Senior leaders Deepender Singh Hooda and Avinash Pande will be flying to Ayodhya, where they plan to pay homage to Ram Lalla, according to a press release from the Congress.
Speaking to reporters, Hooda said, “Bhagwan Shri Ram is the symbol of our faith. We believe that Ram belongs to everyone, and Bhagwan Shri Ram is within every person. This is not the first time I have come to Ayodhya. I came here a year ago to offer prayers to Ram Lalla.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party president Sonia Gandhi, and leader of the party in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined the invitation last week. The Congress leadership, while respectfully rejecting the invitation, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of turning the ceremony into a "political project" for electoral gains and emphasised that religion is a "personal matter".
In a video posted by news agency ANI on X, formerly Twitter, people are seen snatching the flag and damaging it.
As the ruckus grew, police officials were seen breaking the tension and dispersing the public.
#WATCH | Few people seen vandalising Congress flag outside Ayodhya Ram temple
— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) January 15, 2024
A Congress delegation comprising Ajay Rai and Deepender Hooda is on Ayodhya visit today pic.twitter.com/fTSOSUurpI
Despite the Congress top leadership declining the invitation to the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the party's Uttar Pradesh unit was committed to its plan to proceed with the visit to the city during "Makar Sankranti" on Monday.
Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan buys plot in Ayodhya ahead of Ram Temple inauguration: Report
Among those visited Ayodhya are Ajay Rai, Congress Legislature Party leader Aradhana Mishra and Congress national secretary in-charge Dheeraj Gurjar. Senior leaders Deepender Singh Hooda and Avinash Pande will be flying to Ayodhya, where they plan to pay homage to Ram Lalla, according to a press release from the Congress.
Speaking to reporters, Hooda said, “Bhagwan Shri Ram is the symbol of our faith. We believe that Ram belongs to everyone, and Bhagwan Shri Ram is within every person. This is not the first time I have come to Ayodhya. I came here a year ago to offer prayers to Ram Lalla.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party president Sonia Gandhi, and leader of the party in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined the invitation last week. The Congress leadership, while respectfully rejecting the invitation, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of turning the ceremony into a "political project" for electoral gains and emphasised that religion is a "personal matter".
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