Posted 1/13/2024, 2:35:08 PM
Congress Treads Careful Line on Ram Mandir as it Seeks National Alternative to BJP's Hindu Nationalism
- Congress divided on attending Ram Mandir inauguration; Rahul Gandhi weighed in on final decision
- Congress played it safe to avoid losing Muslim goodwill or allowing Modi to get credit
- Decision raises issue of whether Congress can afford to ignore Hindu sentiments to position itself as BJP alternative
- Congress has long struggled to counter BJP's Hindu nationalism since the 1989 Palampur resolution
- Boycotting Jan 22 event gives Congress comfort but may cede more political space and imagination to BJP