In response to Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s working President Alok Kumar’s statement that he had sent a card to Akhilesh Yadav to attend the inaugural function of Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the Samajwadi Party chief on Tuesday said that he wouldn’t accept such an invitation from a “stranger”.

“I don’t know these people (Kumar and his colleagues) and have never met them. They are not fit to give me invitation for anything because we don’t know each other. We accept such gestures in Hindu religion from those whom we know,” Akhilesh told reporters in Lucknow.

“As far as attending the function is concerned, let me say that the BJP and its associated wings are nobody to send such an invitation to me on behalf of the God. I’ll worship at the temple along with my family members only when the God calls me,” he added.

A banner put up by an SP leader at the gate of the party office on Tuesday read in Hindi: “Our God, Lord Ram is coming.”

There is a picture of the under-construction temple and Akhilesh along with Ashutosh Singh, a party leader, on the banner. Singh confirmed that he had ordered the banner and said: “Ram belongs to entire Hindu community and not merely to the BJP, which is misusing the God’s name. The Supreme Court in 2019 had ordered to build Ram temple but the BJP and the VHP are behaving as if it was their decision.”

“Any Hindu can put up such banners anywhere in the country. The SP belongs to those who worship Lord Ram and follow the God’s teaching to work for humanity”, added Singh.

The VHP working president said in Delhi: “We had sent an invitation card to Akhilesh but I heard him saying that he would visit the temple when Lord Ram calls him. Let us see if Lord Ram calls him ever. The people will realise soon that Lord Ram doesn’t want him.”

However, a source close to Akhilesh said: “Some VHP, RSS and BJP leaders had wanted to meet Akhilesh a few days ago but he was not free. They had left the invitation card in his office.”

The Sri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra — a temple trust dominated by the VHP and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh leaders — has nominated a team to decide who would be invited to attend the inaugural function when Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be the chief guest and perform first aarti at the temple.

Akhilesh and his father Mulayam Singh Yadav used to enjoy excellent relation with many VHP leaders including Ashok Singhal but it couldn’t be maintained after the death of those old guards.