Digvijaya Singh Visits Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Says Religion Should Not Be Politicised

Digvijaya Singh, the former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and a senior Congress leader, offered prayers to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on Thursday. This marks his first visit to Ayodhya since the *Pran Pratishtha* (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla took place at the Ram Temple. Digvijaya's visit to Ayodhya has become a major topic of discussion within political circles. It is not that Digvijaya Singh is barred from offering prayers to Ram Lalla; rather, the significance lies in the fact that ever since the construction of the Ram Temple began, the issue has been a subject of intense rhetorical sparring between the Congress and the BJP.

I Do Not Engage in the Politics of Religion

However, Digvijaya Singh maintains that he does not engage in the politics of religion. He asserts that he never opposed the Ram Temple. The Congress leader stated that every individual within the Congress party practices their faith (*Dharma*) in accordance with their own personal beliefs. "We do not misuse religion for commercial gain, nor do we misuse it for political purposes," he said. He emphasized that religion should not be exploited for political ends, nor should it be commercialized. "Every individual practices their faith according to their own convictions," he reiterated.

When the Call Came, I Came to Offer Prayers

Digvijaya Singh remarked that a person visits Ayodhya only when they receive a divine summons from the Lord. He explained that when he received that call, he made his way to the holy city. He added that it would be impossible to visit to seek the blessings of Lord Ram without also paying homage to Lord Hanuman. When asked about Rahul Gandhi, he stated that whenever Rahul receives his divine call, he will undoubtedly visit—"Why wouldn't he?"

Digvijaya Offers Prayers to Ram Lalla on Ram Navami

The Congress leader first visited the ancient Hanuman Garhi temple to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman (*Bajrangbali*). Subsequently, he proceeded to offer his prayers to Ram Lalla. Today marks Ram Navami, and the entire nation is celebrating the birth anniversary of Lord Ram with great fervor. On such a special and auspicious occasion, Digvijaya Singh's visit to offer prayers to Ram Lalla is being viewed as a particularly significant event. Digvijaya Also Donated Towards Ram Temple Construction

It is worth noting that when funds were being collected for the Ram Temple, Digvijaya Singh donated ₹1,11,111 to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. He made this donation towards the construction of the Ram Temple on January 18, 2021. Digvijaya Singh's office issued a press release describing him as a "true Sanatani." While highlighting the Congress party's contribution to the temple's construction, Digvijaya stated, "We, too, have contributed funds."

Summary

Although Digvijaya Singh has consistently been a target of the BJP and various Hindu organizations regarding the Ram Temple issue. He has frequently faced allegations of being anti-Ram and anti-Sanatan; however, he has consistently refuted such accusations.