“My religion has not taught me to accept…” TMC Abhishek Banerjee rejects the idea of a place of worship that is built over dead bodies

Hours before Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya on January 22, Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee indicatively confirmed his rejection of the idea and the consecration ceremony calling the temple, a structure built over the “dead bodies of innocents”. He, albeit, in a cryptic post on social media didn’t mention the words like “lord Ram” or “Ram Mandir” but rather emphasised what he has learnt from his religion.

“My RELIGION has not taught me to accept and embrace a place of worship, whether it be a MANDIR, MASJID, CHURCH or GURUDWARA, which has been built over HATRED, VIOLENCE and the dead bodies of innocents. Period!”, posted the young TMC Member of Parliament from Diamond Harbour on ‘X’ on Sunday.

Trinamool Congress Supremo Mamata Banerjee had earlier rejected the consecration ceremony invite but had stayed away from making any direct comment on the ceremony. She is slated to visit a Kali Temple in Kolkata on Monday. During the time of Ram Mandir inauguration, she is expected to lead a rally in the city comprising of people of all faiths to give out the message of communal harmony. But Abhishek Banerjee became the first leader within the party and even outside, within the ranks of the INDIA alliance bloc to express a strong reservation towards the Mandir inauguration. The opposition INDIA bloc had previously attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for openly indulging in politics over the Mandir inauguration.

While most of the opposition leaders have decided to stay away from the ceremony, be it Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray who had demanded President Droupadi Murmu be asked to perform the January 22 consecration or be it Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is now on the Bharat Jodi Nyay Yatra and called it politicisation of a religious occasion for electoral benefits. No leader from the INDIA Alliance has so far rejected the ceremony outright, which political pundits claim is soft Hindutva and in fear of backlash. But Abhishek Banerjee became the first opposition leader to confirm his outright rejection of the temple in reference to the long protracted dispute that witnessed widespread violence, riots, bloodbath and mayhem in 2002 during the demolition of Babri Masjid.

BJP has touted the Ram mandir inauguration as the biggest event in several centuries and closure to “an agonising wait of Sanatani Hindus”. PM Modi will perform the consecration ceremony on Monday. Over 8000 special invites have been sent to guests. Most of the BJP-ruled states have declared a holiday on Monday. The Centre has announced a half day for central government employees on Monday owing to the Mandir inauguration. Even top Central government medical institutes and hospitals, including AIIMS, Safdarjung and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital have declared to remain shut for a half-day on January 22, while keeping the critical units functional.