It is surprising that the Congress did not understand the nation’s mood.
With the fervour over the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya set to impact the politics of the entire country, Congress may have to pay a heavy price for its and its allies’ decision to distance themselves from the “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony. What is surprising is that the 139-year-old Congress party and its experienced president Mallikarjun Kharge did not understand the mood of the nation. Congress is again mistaken if it thinks that the Ram Mandir fervour will fade away by the time the Lok Sabha elections are held. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s statements on the Ram Mandir issue suggest that he is under this impression. While the party is reiterating its “secular stand”, it ignored the mood of the general public. The BJP will start its campaign for the Lok Sabha elections from 22 January, which will continue to gain momentum after the consecration ceremony.
In fact, it is the Congress which has to do politics in the Hindi belt. The politics of its allies such as Lalu Yadav, Sharad Pawar, Stalin and Mamata Banerjee will remain unaffected. There will be no existential crisis to the parties of these leaders even if they could not get a respectable number of Lok Sabha seats in their states. But the Congress is going to suffer as its stand will antagonise the majority Hindu community. As a result, its downslide in the Lok Sabha polls might be worse than 2014. By sending two junior leaders to Ayodhya, Congress could have avoided being branded as an anti-Hindu party. But the party seems to be obsessed more with appeasement politics.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is observing an 11-day fast and is sleeping on the floor ahead of the consecration ceremony. This practice has strengthened his image as a Sanatani. PM Modi’s visit to temples in South India carries a big political message. If South Indian Hindus rise above caste consideration and start backing the BJP, then the politics of the country will see a huge change. The BJP will give momentum to the Ram Mandir campaign after 22 January. It has constituted committees from district to block levels. These committees will arrange a tour of people to Ayodhya for Ram Lalla darshan. “Chalo Ayodhya” campaign will be at its peak coinciding with the crucial stages like voting and counting during the Lok Sabha elections.
Activists distributed “Akshat” (ceremonial rice) to every household to connect the maximum possible number of people with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. People have been urged to celebrate “Diwali” on 22 January. Videos featuring PM Modi offering prayers, devotional songs, etc. are being forwarded on social media. “Mandir Prakoshtha” will be set up in every state. The work on formation of darshan samitis in blocks will start from Monday. “Prasad” distribution will be carried out in the country after the consecration ceremony. BJP MPs and MLAs will distribute “prasad” in their constituencies. The RSS is preparing prasad packets. The consecration ceremony will be telecast live from Ayodhya.
Hanuman Chalisa and Ram Bhajan will be recited. The main temples of the country will start devotional activities from 21 January. The Congress and the entire opposition seem to have fallen into the BJP’s trap. The opposition appears clueless. Any opposition to religious activities will invite the anger of the Hindu community.