Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut slams BJP for use of Lord Ram and Ram Mandir in election campaigns

File Photo/PTI

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for using Lord Ram and the Ram Mandir in its election campaign across five states.

On Monday, home minister Amit Shah, during a public rally in Guna's Raghogarh, pledged that the BJP would cover the expenses for the darshan (sacred viewing) of Lord Ram Lalla if the party formed the government in Madhya Pradesh.

Raut said, "I have read the statement of Amit Shah. In some meeting, he announced that if the BJP government is formed in Madhya Pradesh, then people will be given the darshan of Ram Lalla for free. Lord Ram is famous for the whole country and the world, but the way Ram Lalla is being promoted in the election campaign, it means that if the people of Madhya Pradesh defeat you, then people will be stopped from going to see Ram Lalla. What kind of politics is going on in our country?"

The construction of the Ram Mandir has become a focal point in the BJP's election campaign. Leaders from Prime Minister Modi to Home Minister Amit Shah have accused the Congress of hindering the temple's construction in Ayodhya. "BJP should apologize for the way issues are being raised in the campaign. Have you become the owner of Ram Lalla or has Ram Lalla appointed you as an agent? This is a very serious matter. If the Election Commission is really alive, then action should be taken in this regard," added Sanjay Raut.

Amit Shah accused the Congress Party of 'halting' the construction of the temple and 'disrespecting' Indian culture. "Congress party always insulted our pilgrimage sites and Indian culture. Narendra Modi built the Ram temple in Ayodhya, built the Kashi Vishwanath corridor, built Baba Mahakal's Lok, and the Somnath temple built of gold. The PM revived Badrinath Dham and Kedar Dham too," he said.

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Shah further emphasized that Ram Lalla was in a "humiliated state" for 550 years. "The Congress party was stalling, deviating, and delaying Ram Mandir for 70 years. Ram Lalla was in a humiliated state for 550 years. You made Modi ji the Prime Minister; he performed the Bhoomi Pujan of Ram temple, and today the Ram temple is being built in Ayodhya," he added. (With inputs from ANI)