- By Vivek Raj
- Thu, 21 Dec 2023 10:24 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Senior Congress leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former president Sonia Gandhi, have been extended invitations to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya scheduled for January 22. The invites were sent individually to Kharge, Gandhi, and Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, though reports suggest they may not attend the ceremony, as per the reports by news agency PTI.
Former prime ministers Manmohan Singh and HD Deve Gowda have also received invitations, with the process ongoing to invite more opposition leaders in the coming days. The invitations were extended by a delegation associated with the Ram Temple construction, including Nripendra Mishra.
Former president Pratibha Patil and heads of all political parties have been included in the list of invitees. While the chiefs of all national political parties have been invited, chief ministers and governors are absent from the invitee list. However, many chief ministers, who also head political parties, are expected to attend.
The guest list for the grand event also includes heads of major temples such as Kashi Vishwanath and Vaishno Devi, along with representatives from religious and constitutional institutions. Spiritual leaders like the Dalai Lama and Mata Amritanandamayi, yoga guru Baba Ramdev, actors Rajnikanth, Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Arun Govil, film director Madhur Bhandarkar, and industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani are also among the invitees.
Earlier, the Vishva Hindu Parishad extended invitations to LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, key figures in the Ram Mandir movement in the '90s. Both have expressed their intention to attend, keeping a view of their health.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple. Following the consecration ceremony, Mandal Puja is scheduled for 48 days starting from January 24, and public darshan of Ram Lalla will be open from January 23.
