“Would they have put up with it?” Mallikarjun Kharge discusses his absence from the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday that he did not attend the Ram Temple’s consecration event in Ayodhya because members of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe tribes still experience prejudice while trying to enter temples all around India. “Would they have tolerated it if I had left?” Kharge enquired.

“Even now, not all the temples allow my people inside. Once you leave Ram Mandir, there will always be a battle to get in. They forbid modest temples in a community. You forbid drinking water, you forbid educational establishments, and you even forbid a groom riding in a parade… They are beaten and pulled by others. Maintaining a mustache—advise them to shave it. Thus, you anticipate me… Kharge, a member of the Scheduled Caste group, questioned if they would have accepted it if he had left.

In response to a query on the Congress’ choice to forego Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s consecration ceremony, Kharge said. The Congress boycotted the Ayodhya event for personal faith, according to Kharge, who refuted the PM’s claim that the Congress did so for political purposes. Whoever wants to go may do so on that day or any other.

“We assured our folks that it’s absolutely jao, Jiski aastha hai. Truly, we who have faith have to depart; hum jo jis waqt jana hain, us waqt jayenge. We’ll go at a moment that suits us best,” the president of Congress said.

In addition, Kharge said that President Droupadi Murmu and her predecessor, Ram Nath Kovind, had been “humiliated” by the BJP administration due to their Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste backgrounds.

Why did you not let the Prime Minister and President Droupadi Murmu to go? She is this nation’s first citizen. You didn’t permit her. During the same period, you denied her permission to visit and officially open the new Parliament building. Ram Nath Kovind, the former president, was a member of the Scheduled Caste. You prevented him from laying the building’s foundation stone, the Parliament. You would never have broken these guidelines if there had been other members of the community there. “You talk a lot about our rights and how they are Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe, but you humiliate them and tell everyone that Congresspeople did not come,” he remarked.

The BJP accused the Congress of engaging in vote-bank tactics and said that the party was motivated by a fear of losing out on minority votes, which generated controversy over the party’s choice to forgo the consecration ceremony. According to Kharge, those with faith are the ones who should attend the Ram Temple dedication ceremony; it is not a party event.

It serves only a religious purpose, and those who practice religion fulfill this role. They may have left as well. I don’t have any ill will against anybody. There are 33 crore deities in our universe. We would worship all 33 crore gods and goddesses if they let my people do so, Kharge said.

The Indian Express Idea Exchange program was the venue for the Congress president’s speech.

During his speech, KHarge also disparaged the PM’s “400 paar” campaign slogan and said that the public’s desire for change will prevent Modi from realizing his ambition of winning a third term in office.

“We are gathering the necessary numbers to stop him, and we will demonstrate to him that the people of this nation, not the opposition, are the ones who want change. The people are not pleased,” he said, stressing that the BJP’s unease was apparent from its recent rush to gather all those whom the party had previously denounced as dishonest.