The consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir is set to take place on January 22, stirring much discussion about the attendees and non-attendees.
Invitations for the ceremony are being managed by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, a trust established by the Indian government to oversee the construction of the Ram Mandir. The trust’s composition of members is noteworthy, with the general secretary being Champat Rai, the vice president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
The VHP, a member of the Sangh Parivar group, which consists of Hindu nationalist organizations, played a significant role in the destruction of the Babri Masjid, alongside members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The current BJP-led government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has legitimized the unlawful destruction of the mosque, and the participation of these right-wing organizations in the trust underscores this.
Although the trust is officially handling the distribution of invites, it is evident that members of the BJP and RSS are personally involved in presenting invitations to certain celebrities. This shows extensive participation from the current central government and larger right-wing forces of India in organizing the consecration ceremony, contrary to the trust’s official role.
The national spokesperson of the VHP, Vinod Bansal, stated that the goal is to ensure non-discrimination based on political ideology and that all, regardless of political affiliation, would be invited. However, opposition parties not attending the ceremony are facing criticism from right-wing groups, indicating the strong political undertones of the event.
Leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) are refusing to participate, citing it as a politicization of religious beliefs, in contrast to the response from India’s minister of state for external affairs and culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, who suggested that only those called by Lord Ram would be attending the ceremony in Ayodhya.
There is a clear line drawn between attendees and non-attendees of the consecration ceremony, with the BJP and its allies aiming to leverage this divide to advance their nation-building narrative. However, the recent declines in invitations by top spiritual leaders reveal the political nature of the event, contradicting the government’s assertion that it is a purely religious occasion. These declines further support the claim that the BJP is rushing the consecration ceremony for political gain ahead of upcoming general elections.
The prominent role of the prime minister in the ceremony also underscores the political nature of the event, indicating a clear intention to solidify Modi as the leader who delivered justice to the Hindus of India.