In a sharp critique of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament (MP) Awadhesh Prasad accused the party of politicizing festivals and claimed he did not receive an invitation to the much-anticipated Deepotsav event in Ayodhya, a key highlight of the Diwali celebrations.
On October 30, during a media interaction, Prasad responded to a question regarding a seer’s comments criticizing him for allegedly planning to skip the event. “I have not got any pass or invite for the Deepotsav celebrations,” he clarified, countering claims made by the seer.
“The BJP is politicising this festival and dividing people,” Prasad stated emphatically. He asserted that the festival of Deepavali transcends individual communities, emphasizing, “This festival doesn’t belong to any one community.” Despite not receiving an official invite, the MP confirmed his plans to attend the celebrations, underscoring his commitment to the occasion.
Before launching into his critique of the BJP, Prasad extended his Diwali greetings to the people of Ayodhya, expressing pride in representing the Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which encompasses the revered site of the Ram Temple. “We celebrate all our festivals with the feeling of brotherhood. Unfortunately, the BJP wants to divide people in the name of festivals,” he lamented.
Awadhesh Prasad’s comments come in the wake of his notable victory over the BJP candidate in Faizabad, a constituency that is significant due to its connection to the Ram Temple. He defeated BJP’s Lallu Singh by a substantial margin of 54,567 votes. Prasad, who hails from the Pasi community, which has a strong presence in central and eastern Uttar Pradesh, continues to be a vocal opponent of the BJP’s tactics in the state.
“The BJP is politicising this festival. The festival doesn’t belong to any specific community, section, or party. The festival is everyone’s, and we will celebrate it together,” Prasad concluded, reiterating his belief in the inclusive nature of the festival amid the rising political tensions surrounding it.