Karnataka Congress' Contradicting Reactions To Ram Mandir Epitomises The Party's Confusion

Where does the Congress really stand on the Ram Mandir?

Siddaramaiah, The Athiest

In the past, CM Siddaramaiah has claimed to be an atheist and a rationalist.

Recently, news reports described him as a 'known rationalist who is even seen as being borderline atheist' even as he inaugurated a Ram temple in Bengaluru on January 22.

In 2018, he called himself a 'Hindu who believes in humanism'. While a few media reports termed him as an 'agnostic who performed aarti', others called him 'spiritual'. (One of his own government department's website describes him as being an atheist.)

Siddaramaiah, The Devotee?

Recently, as the whole nation was warming up to prana-pratishtha in Ayodhya, Siddaramaiah stated that Lord Rama does not belong to the BJP.

In the speech he was delivering yesterday on January 22, he also took the names of Lord Ram, Bhimrao Ambedkar, Hanuman and Basavanna.

He said that he is 'walking the talk' by implementing all their teachings. After stating that "Ram expects from politicians only to build a Ram Rajya full of peace, and co-existence", he added that he is also planning to visit Ayodhya.

Siddaramaiah's Image

On one occasion, he remarked (albeit jokingly, he claims) that he is 'afraid' to be near people with kumkum mark or tilak drawn on their forehead. During his previous tenure, police personnel were banned from wearing earrings and bangles to work.

Recently, his government arrested Shrikant Poojari, a Hindu activist, by reopening a 31-year-old case against him.

Confusion In The Congress Party

Notably, earlier in the month, senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, along with party president Mallikarjun Kharge had 'respectfully declined' the invitation to the 22 January event in Ayodhya. However, multiple Congress leaders had expressed happiness at the event and some even attended it.

Karnataka Congressmen too, happen to contradict the Congress' stance on the matter. Congress MLA Priya Krishna in Bengaluru organised celebrations in his constituency and also distributed sweets to people in his locality.

"I have been tagged an atheist. But, I have Rama in my name (Siddaramaiah) itself", he said. He added that he used to take part in bhajans held at his village of Siddaramanahundi in Mysuru.

Even as there have been restrictions imposed in coastal Karnataka on celebrations around the Ram Temple event, Congress leaders have compared CM Siddaramaiah to Lord Rama.

Clearly, Congress and confusion are not going to be separated anytime soon.