People need to think about themselves, not get swayed by Ram Temple: Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor believes that the Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya will just have a shortterm impact in favour of the BJP and the issue may not benefit the ruling party in the upcoming Lok Sabha electionsStressing that people need to think about their living conditions and not the Ram Temple he says It is high time they emphasized their economic condition Is it better under this government Are they happy with their lives Can they afford to eat what they were two years back Just look at the prices of basic commodities has their condition improved on any parameter under this governmentThe MP from Thiruvananthapuram Kerala while speaking at a session and later with the media during the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival JLF said that the current dispensation has done very little to empower the people who are at the bottom of the pyramid and trying to make ends The poor are getting poorer and nothing is working for them Congress is committed to a free economy and wants to witness the participation of the financially weak in the economy so they can succeed in their livesAsk him about the multiple raids and arrests of politicians by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate ED and Tharoor opines that while the agencies should do their work it is important that it is done fairly Why is it that only Opposition leaders are arrested It is sad to see that these agencies are being shamelessly used by the governmentHe said that till a few years ago there was a culture of cooperating across divides including politically to serve the nation but the same does not hold nowAnyone who disagrees with the Central government is branded antinational Just because we have different approaches does it mean that we do not respect and love our country Every country state and constituency needs a different approach Sadly for over a decade now there has been talk of only one person and democracy is facing a real challenge Tharoor addedAccusing the Centre of destroying Indias democratic institutions he said the country is turning into an electoral dictatorship The country now needs a different leadership that is willing to understand the needs of the people and find solutions to their problemsCalling upon the youth to use their vote carefully he said that only their vote counted and their future is in their own handsEven as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has switched back to NDA and Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Banerjee has announced to go alone in West Bengal Tharoor said that the INDIA alliance comprises several parties and there are bound to be disagreementsDismissing BJPs criticism of Congress leaders not attending the Ram Temple ceremony the politicianauthor said Just because we did not go to Ayodhya on that day does not mean we have something against Hinduism By the way since childhood I have been praying to Ram BJP should remember that it does not have a right over Ram I will go when I want to For us to choose our own time and place convenience and worship does not make us antiHinduThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever