PM Modi slams Congress for refusing to attend 'pran pratishta' ceremony, says it insulted Lord Ram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday slammed the Congress for stalling the construction of of the Ram temple in Ayodhya for several years and for insulting Lord Ram by rejecting the invitation for the 'pran pratishta' ceremony.

Addressing an election rally in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi accused Congress of having hatred towards the temple construction. 

"The Congress made several efforts so that the Ram temple in Ayodhya is not constructed. But when the people of the country made such a beautiful temple by contributing every penny, and when the temple people forgave all your sins, and invited you for the 'pran prathistaa', you insulted Lord Ram by rejecting the invitation and expelled leaders, who attended it, for six years," PM Modi was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

"Every family of the country contributed according to their devotion. The people of Pilibhit also gifted a huge flute to Ayodhya. But, the people of INDI alliance had hatred even before the construction of Ram temple and they have hatred even today," Modi added.

Modi also attacked Congress of doing appeasement politics and said it can never come out of it. "Congress is so immersed in the swamp ('daldal') of appeasement that it can never get out of it. The manifesto prepared by the Congress seems to be that of Muslim League rather than that of the Congress,” he said.

He further recalled the contributions made by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh for the construction of the temple saying he dedicated his life and government for the Ram temple.

Singh, who was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh when the Babri mosque was demolished in 1992 was one of the prominent faces of the Ram mandir agitation.

He further spoke of developmental works done by the BJP government and said it is working towards the goal of making a developed India.

"No matter how difficult the goal is, if India is determined to achieve it, it will definitely achieve. Today, with this inspiration and energy, we are working towards the resolution of a developed India," he said.

"Amidst the difficulties of the entire world, India is showing that there is nothing impossible for it," he added.