New Delhi, Nov. 12: The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) and Ramlila Mahasangh have condemned remarks by Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad on Lord Ram and Congress MP Imran Masood on Diwali.
The organisations demanded apologies from both MPs, alleging that their statements had hurt the religious sentiments of millions of people.
CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said Azad had reportedly stated that he would never visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Azad allegedly cited Lord Ram’s decision to abandon Sita despite her undergoing the Agni Pariksha.
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Goyal said the remarks had hurt devotees. CTI has also written to Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee, seeking Azad’s withdrawal of the statement and an expression of regret.
The organisation also sought clarification on whether Azad’s remarks reflected the party’s official position.
CTI Raises Concerns Over Ram Temple Remarks and Diwali Statement
Goyal said religious beliefs should not become a source of political conflict. He described Lord Ram as a symbol of dignity, sacrifice and duty, and said Sita was equally revered.
CTI also highlighted Ayodhya’s economic growth following the construction of the Ram Temple. It said the city received around 1.7 million visitors annually before the temple construction. The figure rose to 164 million in 2024 and nearly 200 million in 2025, according to the organisation.
The number of hotel rooms reportedly increased from 3,500–4,000 to more than 5,000. Over 50 major hotel projects are under construction, while homestays have increased to 1,136.
Similarly, restaurants increased from around 200 to nearly 2,000. The number of rickshaws and e-rickshaws reportedly rose from 500 to approximately 17,000.
CTI said shopkeepers’ daily earnings had increased from Rs 400–500 to around Rs 2,500. It also cited more than 1.2 lakh new jobs and over 6,000 new MSMEs.
The organisation said investments worth Rs 85,000 crore were being made under Ayodhya’s Master Plan 2031.
CTI claimed that traders in Ayodhya were upset over the remarks because religious tourism supports local livelihoods. It said small traders, hotel employees, homestay operators and other workers depended on visitors.
The organisation demanded an apology from Azad, clarification from Banerjee and restraint from political leaders when discussing religious beliefs.
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Meanwhile, Ramlila Mahasangh president Arjun Kumar also criticised the remarks. He announced that neither Azad nor Masood would be invited to or allowed entry into Ramlila events organised in Delhi or elsewhere in the country.
Kumar said thousands of Ramlila events take place annually, involving numerous artists and organisers.
Goyal also criticised Congress MP Imran Masood for reportedly describing Diwali as a “man-made disease”. He said the statement had triggered resentment among members of the public and business community.
He urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to take up the matter and either seek Masood’s removal from the party or ask him to apologise.
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