Is It a Shraadh or Shaadi? Asks JDU MP Kaushalendra Kumar on Ram Mandir Inauguration Invites

NALANDA: “Is it somebody's son's wedding that an invitation is being extended?”, JDU MP from Nalanda constituency, Kaushalendra Kumar quipped on Saturday, while making controversial remarks on the invites being sent for the ‘pranpratishtha’ ceremony, due to be held at the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, news agency ANI reported.

Questioning the need for sending out invites, Kumar said: “If they won't invite me, will I not go to Ayodhya? Is it someone's father's 'shraadh' (death anniversary) or somebody's son's wedding?", even as he asserted that “the one who is inviting is a fool”.

Stressing that Ayodhya “belongs to everyone”, Kumar reportedly said: "if someone is trying to capture it [Ayodhya], then it won't happen.”

On couples visiting the Ram Janmabhoomi site, Kumar said: “Husband and wife going together – as a couple –  will be receiving blessings from Lord Ram and Goddess Sita, and added that ”If someone goes there without Sita [the wife], then they won't benefit in 2024".

The grand inauguration of the newly-reconstructed Ram Mandir in the holy city of Ayodhya is due to take place on January 22 this year.  

‘A Fool Will Always Speak Like One’: Ram Janmabhoomi Chief Priest Lambasts Kumar

Meanwhile, Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das lambasted Kumar over his controversial remarks, saying: “A fool will always speak like one”. Claiming that Kumar “himself is a fool”, Das told ANI that invites are “letters of honour” acknowledging those “being invited to the grand works [Ram Mandir inauguration] that are being done”. 

Mentioning that invites are sent “for the smallest of the works that are done”, Das asserted that Kumar “should keep his foolishness to himself”.

“A fool who has no knowledge will always use such language” Das reportedly said.