AYODHYA: Even as a controversy erupted after the national leadership of the Congress rejected the invitation for the Consecration ceremony of Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya, several Congress leaders reached Ayodhya on Monday. Leaders such as Uttar Pradesh PCC Congress chief Ajay Rai, MLA. Akhilesh Pratap Singh, AICC General Secretary Avinash Pandey and MP Deepender Hooda took a holy dip in the Sarayu river in Ayodhya. The group also prayed at the Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya.

Hooda said that Lord Ram belonged to everyone and that he had been to Ayodhya before as well. He also said that he had come to seek the blessings of Lord Ram as part of Makar Sankranti.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also visited Ayodhya along with her colleagues. She said that the BJP was playing dirty politics in the name of religion.