Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Section of saints wants Priyanka Gandhi to visit makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is likely to undertake her first-ever journey to Ayodhya on Wednesday as she launches her campaign for the Faizabad Lok Sabha constituency in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.

A section of Ayodhya saints, who are considered close to the Congress, will try to give a soft Hindutva touch to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s maiden visit to the temple town of Ayodhya on Wednesday, people familiar with the matter said.

A poster with AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi's picture. Priyanka Gandhi is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Wednesday, March 26, 2019. (HT Photo)

Some of them also want her to visit the makeshift Ram temple at the disputed site but there is no plan for her to do so, they added.

Refusing to be named, an Ayodhya saint associated with the Congress said: “Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi’s maiden visit to Ayodhya is an opportunity for us to build soft Hindutva image of the party to negate BJP’s effort to create anti-Ram Mandir image of the Congress.” Her road show in temple town has been planned from the historic Hanuman Garhi temple.

“Lord Hanuman blesses everyone who seeks his blessings. Rahul Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have also offered prayers at Hanuman Garhi. They got the Lord’s blessings,” said Mahant Gyan Das of Hanuman Garhi. The mahant and his followers are doing some of the ground work for the visit.

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, disciple of Shankaracharya Swaroopanand, said: “It is good that Priyanka Gandhi is visiting Ayodhya. But will she go to Ram Mandir (makeshift Ram temple)?” he asked.

“Priyanka Gandhi must also go to the Ram Mandir and see Ram Lala’s condition herself. The presiding deity of Ayodhya is in a tent,” he asserted.

“Without paying obeisance to Ram Lala, Priyanka Gandhi’s prayer at Hanuman Garhi will have no meaning,” he said.