Sitaram Yechury turns down invite for January 22 Ram temple event

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury has declined to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22 next year. CPI chief D Raja, who was also among the invitees, is unlikely to attend the ceremony as well. Among top opposition leaders, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Khshetra Trust has invited Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the party's leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Former PM Manmohan Singh and H D Deve Gowda, and heads of political parties are also invited.