DIFFICULT FOR US TO GO TO 'POLITICAL FUNCTION' DESIGNED AROUND PM: RAHUL

Answering queries, Congress leader said he does not try to take advantage” of his religion, lives by its principles

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the Ram temple consecration event in Ayodhya has been made into a "Narendra Modi and RSS-BJP function" with an "election flavour", as he strongly defended the decision of his party's top leaders to decline the invite to the ceremony.

Gandhi, whose family and party have been accused of being anti-Hindu by the BJP, also asserted that the Hindu dharma for him is a way of life and he tries to live by its principles, adding that those who "don't believe in it, need to wear it on their shirt".

RSS and the BJP have made the January 22 function at Ram Temple in Ayodhya "a completely political Narendra Modi function" and that it is difficult for Congress leaders "to go to a political function which is designed around the Prime Minister of India and around the RSS".

Rahul Gandhi, who addressed a press conference during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here, said that the biggest authorities of the Hindu religion have made their views public about what they think about the January 22 function.

Congress leaders - Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury-- had earlier "respectfully declined" the invitation "for Ram Temple inauguration" on January 22, calling it a "BJP-RSS" event.

Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram's idol will take place at the grand temple in Ayodhya on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Elaborate arrangements are being done for the ceremony.

Answering queries, Rahul Gandhi said he does "not try to take advantage" of his religion, lives by its principles and does not have to wear it on his sleeve like those "who do not believe in it".