BJP MP Ravi Kishan on Sunday took a pointed swipe at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his proposed visit to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, saying he should take Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along and apologise to the kar sevaks before entering the temple.Taking a dig at the Opposition, the Gorakhpur MP said people would be watching those whom he described as "electoral Hindus", suggesting that the Opposition's renewed engagement with religious symbolism was driven by political calculations. Akhilesh Yadav's first visit to the Ram Mandi is scheduled for mid-December, just months ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections."I just heard that Akhilesh Yadav is going to visit the Ram Temple.

When he goes, he should take his elder brother Rahul Gandhi along. The Congress's mother believed that Lord Shri Ram was imaginary.

You should apologise to the kar sevaks before leaving. You should go with emotions, not for elections," Kishan said.The BJP leader further criticised the Opposition, questioning its commitment to Lord Ram and accusing it of approaching the temple visit with electoral considerations.

His remarks came amid a fresh political exchange between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party over Akhilesh Yadav's proposed visit to Ayodhya on December 12.According to former SP MLA Pawan Pandey, Akhilesh Yadav and his wife, Dimple Yadav, will visit the Ram Temple and Hanumangarhi temple during their trip. The visit will be Akhilesh's first to the Ram Temple since its consecration in January 2024.

The announcement has triggered a political debate in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP has repeatedly questioned why the former chief minister has not visited the temple since its inauguration. The proposed visit is being viewed as part of the Samajwadi Party's attempt to counter the BJP's political narrative around Hindu identity.The BJP has frequently targeted Akhilesh over the police firing on kar sevaks in Ayodhya in 1990, when his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav, was the Uttar Pradesh chief minister.

The incident remains a major political flashpoint between the two parties.Kishan's remarks came amid a similar attack by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who said Akhilesh should apologise to Ram devotees and saints before visiting Ayodhya.Speaking at AajTak Panchayat during a conversation with Aaj Tak Senior Managing Editor Sweta Singh, Adityanath said everyone had the right to visit the temple town but insisted that the Samajwadi Party chief should first acknowledge his party's past actions."Everyone has the right to come to Ayodhya. But if the Samajwadi Party chief wants to visit, he should first apologise to Ram devotees for his actions and deeds.

He should also apologise for neglecting Ayodhya," the Chief Minister said.The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also criticised Akhilesh's proposed visit. The outfit's national spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, asked the SP chief to seek forgiveness for his alleged remarks against Lord Ram, the Ram Temple and Hindu religious beliefs.AKHILESH HITS BACK CITING TEMPLE DONATION THEFTSP chief Akhilesh Yadav shot back at the BJP, questioning the Uttar Pradesh government's handling of the alleged donation case in Ayodhya and raised concerns over the compensation paid to residents whose land was acquired for development projects."When will the truth behind the donation case come out?

Who were involved, who protected them and why has no action been taken despite an SIT investigation? Why has the Chief Minister remained silent?

Who will take responsibility?" the Samajwadi Party chief said.He added, "People of Ayodhya were humiliated and denied fair compensation for their land in the name of development."The exchange comes amid an intensifying political contest over Ayodhya, with the BJP and the Samajwadi Party trading allegations over religious identity, the Ram Temple and the treatment of local residents.- Ends