Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai was given such a grand welcome in Ayodhya that now this welcome party has become a problem for his party. Not only is he the target of saints in Ayodhya, but the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is calling him anti-Hindu and people are demanding answers from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
Ajay Rai reached Ayodhya on the day of Ekadashi. On the same day the local people organized 'Mach Bhoj'. Saints say that people from Hindu religious families do not even eat garlic, onion or rice on Ekadashi, on this day a meat feast was organized for Ajay Rai. The saints are demanding that Ajay Rai apologize publicly.
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Where was the fish feast held?
A party was organized in Tarun area at Arpit Marriage Lawn to welcome UP Congress President Ajay Rai in Ayodhya. People are seen cooking fish in the video. It rained heavily during this event and people had to save themselves in a hurry. Ajay Rai was seen avoiding media questions. It is being claimed that 2 quintals of fish was ordered for this event. Congress has not accepted any such claim.
What has Ajay Rai said in his clarification?
Ajay Rai, President, UP Congress:-
Yesterday Nishad Samaj had called me. Whenever I go to Ayodhya, I first visit Hanumangarhi and Lord Ram and then go to the programme. He was organizing a fish feast in the program of Nishad Samaj, this was his job. I attended the program and returned back to Lucknow. Rearing, catching and eating fish is in the lifestyle of Nishad community. BJP is insulting Nishad community, Nishad community will not forget this. If the Chief Minister is criticizing and he has any photo then show it. I am ready to resign.
What are the saints of Ayodhya saying?
The saints allege that political activities are welcome in Ayodhya but in the holy religious city, organizing Machli Bhaat on a date like Ekadashi in the month of Sawan is not appropriate, it is an insult to religious sentiments. The saints say that the Congress high command should apologize for this incident in Ayodhya.
Bharat Das, a Mahant of Ayodhya has said, 'Congress does not understand the traditions of Ayodhya. Giving non-vegetarian feast on Ekadashi date in the holy month of Sawan shows that Congress is anti-Sanatan. People will not tolerate anti-Sanatan activities in the city of Lord Ram.
Paramhansacharya, a saint of Ayodhya, said, 'Ayodhya is not an ordinary place. This is the birthplace of Lord Ram. It is the center of faith of Hindus. Every political party, which wants to live in Ayodhya, should respect Sanatan Aastha. Congress should give up anti-Hindu.
Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister:-
You must have seen the conduct of the state president of Congress, he goes to Hanumangarhi for darshan but later has a fish feast outside. Whatever food was to be eaten, they would have gone outside Ayodhya and eaten it, this is their double standards. Even the chameleon gets shy in front of them.
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What has Ayodhya Congress said?
Ayodhya District Congress President Chet Narayan Singh asked what is the defense of Ajay Rai. He has said that Ajay Rai is Sanatani, he regularly comes to Ayodhya, prays and worships in the Ram temple. He said he was unaware of any non-vegetarian feast. If any worker breaks the religious traditions of Sanatan, he will be punished.
Organizer Ramnihal Nishad has said that the Constitution gives the right to food and fish is our tradition.
What did the Bharatiya Janata Party say?
Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Leader, BJP:-
If you throw a fish feast in Ayodhya in the holy month of Shravan, then one thing is very clear from this that you are intolerant towards Sanatan and are competing to become the warrior of secularism.
BJP's national spokesperson RP Singh said, 'They are trying to call themselves Hindus, that is why they go to visit Ayodhya, but they forget that this is the month of Shravan and during Shravan, they keep distance from meat and fish. Distance is also kept from garlic and onion. These are the new type of Sanatani, who have to do Sanatan's work just for show, go to the temple for show, but do not follow the practices of Sanatan.
Bihar Cooperation Minister Ram Kripal Yadav said, 'This is the real face of Congress, there is a world of difference between their words and actions. How can such an event be organized in a holy place like Ayodhya and that too in the month of Sawan?
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What clarification has Congress given?
On Ayodhya issue, Congress leader Pawan Kheda said, 'Such issues are raised because issues like paper leak are not raised. Today, when Ayodhya is mentioned, people remember donation theft. Will 'Mach-Bhaat' make people forget the Ayodhya offering theft incident? People of Nagpur think that fish should not be eaten. Ajay Rai is a vegetarian, even if he was not, what was wrong in it?