Amit Shah's Sita Temple Claim Sparks Row: Congress Questions BJP's Intentions

Image Source: Internet

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent rally in Purnea, Bihar, has sparked controversy over his claim that a grand temple of Goddess Sita worth ₹850 crores is being built in Sitamarhi. Shah, addressing the rally, said he and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone for the temple, aimed at connecting the birthplace of Sita to the Ram temple in Ayodhya through a Vande Bharat train. However, the Congress has hit back at the BJP, questioning its intentions behind the claim. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh pointed out that the Ministry of Culture had earlier stated that there is no historical evidence of Sita's birth in Sitamarhi. He also accused the BJP government of neglecting the preservation and development of Bihar's religious sites, including the PRASHAD Scheme and Swadesh Darshan, which did not allocate funds to Sitamarhi. Ramesh also questioned the cancellation of the Motihari-Sheohar-Sitamarhi rail project, a strategic area connected to the international border. The Congress leader posed three questions to the BJP, including whether they will publicly apologize for disrespecting Bihar's faith and Mithila's identity, and why they are not interested in preserving and developing Bihar's religious sites. The row highlights the BJP's efforts to woo voters in Bihar ahead of the assembly polls, with Shah's claim of building a grand temple in Sitamarhi seen as an attempt to invoke the goddess and connect with the local population. However, the Congress's counterattack raises questions about the BJP's intentions and its commitment to preserving and developing Bihar's cultural heritage.