Cong slams Advani for his statement on Ram temple

"Advani is raising such issues to avoid and delay his forced retirement which is being pushed by senior leaders of BJP and RSS," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmad told mediapersons in New Delhi.

On Friday, the BJP leader had after offering prayers at the Somnath temple in Gujarat said, "Ram temple should be and will be built at Ayodhya ... I visit Somnath every year this day and will continue to do so till Ram temple comes up at Ayodhya."

Advani had also launched his Rathyatra from the same place on September 25, 1990 to press for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, which ended abruptly after his arrest in Bihar then.

Attacking the BJP for again raking up the issue, Ahmad said, "BJP has attempted to dishonour Maryada Purushottam Ram a number of times in past for the sake of votes. The issue is again being raised so that communal passion flares up."

Ahmad said the Congress has a very clear opinion on the Ram temple issue. "A solution to it can be found only in two ways either through a consensus and mutual amity between the two communities or as per the decision of the court," he added.