The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Former Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo refuted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent criticisms of the Congress party’s attitude towards cultural heritage. Deo reminded the Prime Minister that the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple was initiated only after the formation of a Congress government. This statement comes in response to PM Modi’s remarks accusing the Congress of failing to understand the significance of religious sites and being ‘ashamed’ of Indian culture.
Deo highlighted that PM Modi, hailing from Gujarat, seemed to have forgotten the role of the Congress government in the rebuilding of the Somnath Temple. He expressed surprise at the Prime Minister’s oversight, particularly given his Gujarat origins.
The controversy intensified following the decision of Congress leaders, including national president Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi, to decline the invitation to attend the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. This refusal drew sharp criticism from the BJP, accusing the Congress leadership of insulting India’s Sanatan culture.
PM Modi, in his address at a gathering in Guwahati, inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for projects worth Rs 11,599 crore, including the Maa Kamakhya Divya Pariyojana. He emphasized the importance of these projects in strengthening connectivity in Assam and the Northeast with other South Asian countries, boosting employment opportunities in the tourism sector.
The Prime Minister also reflected on his recent visit to Ayodhya and his participation in the Maa Kamakhya Divya Pariyojana Project at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. He shared his sense of privilege in being part of these significant religious and cultural events.
Singh Deo’s rebuttal to Modi’s statements underscores the ongoing political debate in India surrounding historical contributions to cultural and religious sites, and the differing perspectives of the BJP and Congress on these matters.
