The consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya next month – to be headlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi – has become, as expected, a political issue ahead of a Lok Sabha election due in less than four months. Invitations to the January 22 event have been sent to religious leaders and actors, but it is those sent to opposition leaders (and their RSVPs) that are making headlines.

This morning CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat underlined her party’s decision to skip a programme that she described as the “politicisation of a religious programme”. “No, we will not go. We respect the religious beliefs… but they are connecting a religious programme with politics. “Using religion as a political weapon or to advance a political agenda is not right,” Ms Karat told news agency ANI.

The BJP – for which construction of the temple has been a major campaign issue, and will be again in the run-up to the 2024 general and state polls – hit back at Ms Karat with Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi, saying, “… invitations were sent to all (but) only those called by Lord Ram will come”.