The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) and the Ramlila Mahasangh on Thursday, 12 November jointly condemned remarks made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kirti Azad about Lord Ram and the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and by Congress MP Imran Masood who reportedly described Diwali as a 'man-made disease.' Both organisations have formally demanded public apologies from the two legislators, stating the remarks have wounded the religious sentiments of millions and triggered widespread resentment among traders and citizens.

What Was Said and Why It Has Caused Outrage

CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal stated that Azad had reportedly told media that he would never visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya because Lord Ram had abandoned Sita despite her undergoing the Agni Pariksha. Goyal called the remark deeply offensive to crores of devotees. CTI has also written to TMC President Mamata Banerjee, urging her to ask Azad to withdraw the statement and express regret, while also seeking clarification on whether the remarks reflect the party's official position.

'Everyone has the right to express their faith, but no one has the right to disrespect the faith of others. Lord Ram is a symbol of dignity, sacrifice and duty. Maa Sita is equally revered. It is wrong to play politics by pitting Ram and Sita against each other. We want dialogue, not conflict,' Goyal said.

Separately, Goyal criticised Masood for describing Diwali — one of the most significant festivals of the Sanatan tradition — as a 'man-made disease.' The remark has drawn sharp reactions from the business community, for whom Diwali represents the peak of the commercial calendar. Goyal urged senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to either seek Masood's dismissal from the party or ask him to apologise to the nation.

Ramlila Mahasangh Bans Both MPs From All Events

Ramlila Mahasangh President Arjun Kumar announced that neither Azad nor Masood would be invited to or permitted entry into any Ramlila event in Delhi or elsewhere in the country. Kumar noted that thousands of Ramlila events are staged across Delhi and India annually, involving thousands of artists and organisers, and that such remarks hurt millions of people associated with these cultural and religious celebrations.

Ayodhya's Economic Transformation at Stake

CTI underscored that Ayodhya has become a major node in India's spiritual economy, and that remarks hurting religious sentiment carry direct economic consequences for the city's residents. According to CTI data, annual visitors to Ayodhya rose from approximately 1.7 million before the Ram Temple's construction to 164 million in 2024 and nearly 200 million in 2025.

The number of hotel rooms has grown from roughly 3,500–4,000 to more than 5,000, with over 50 major hotel projects under construction. Homestays have multiplied from a negligible base to 1,136, restaurants from about 200 to nearly 2,000, and rickshaws and e-rickshaws from 500 to around 17,000. Daily earnings of shopkeepers have reportedly risen from ₹400–500 to approximately ₹2,500. More than 1.2 lakh new jobs and over 6,000 new MSMEs have been created, while investments of ₹85,000 crore are being channelled under Ayodhya's Master Plan 2031.

CTI said traders in Ayodhya were deeply distressed by the remarks and had reached out to express their displeasure, warning that any statement that damages religious sentiment could hurt livelihoods across a wide cross-section — from small shopkeepers and homestay owners to rickshaw pullers, potters, and sellers of flowers and prasad.

CTI's Three Formal Demands

CTI has put three demands on record: first, that Kirti Azad apologise for his remarks about Lord Ram; second, that Mamata Banerjee clarify whether the statement represents the official position of the Trinamool Congress; and third, that political leaders across all parties refrain from making disparaging remarks about religious deities and festivals.

With both the TMC and Congress yet to formally respond, the controversy is likely to deepen as trade bodies and religious organisations amplify their calls for accountability.