Ayodhya Ram Mandir is still under construction, and Congress leader Pawan Khera has taken aim at the "thekedar" Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for holding the "Pran Prathista" ceremony there. The Congress criticized the BJP, asking, "Why are they in a hurry to inaugurate an under-construction building," when four Shankaracharyas (religious heads) declined to attend the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. “All four Shankaracharyas have said clearly that the pranpratishtha of an incomplete temple cannot be done. If this event is not religious, then it is political", Pawan Khera said.
Shankaracharyas stated that the ceremony for the "Pran Pratishtha" is not being conducted in accordance with biblical rules. Alka Lamba, a Congress spokesperson, responded to the BJP by saying, "Ask them (BJP), why are the Shankaracharyas not going (to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony]?" They argued that because the Ram Mandir is still under construction, why are the PM and BJP moving so quickly? the politicization of the temple's inaugural ceremony while it is still under construction, which is obvious given the approaching elections."
According to Supriya Shrinate, the chairperson of the Congress party for social media and digital platforms, "All four Shankaracharyas have decided to not visit Ayodhya (for pranpratishtha of Ram Temple). But there is no outrage over this. Does this not hurt religion? It is absolutely wrong to do politics over religious rituals. We are not declining a visit (to Ayodhya). We are not going to the 22nd January event in Ayodhya that is being held in the presence of PM Modi and RSS chief. Shankaracharyas are not going to that event either. We don't want to be a part of the disgusting politics that is being done..."
