No change in stance on Ram Temple, says BJP

Claiming there was no change in its ideology on the Ram temple issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party said it will make any comments on the contentious matter only after the court verdict that is expected to be out soon.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain was replying to questions by mediapersons on what the party had to say on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's comment that the Ram Mandir movement had helped BJP but the Sangh was not looking for help from anyone to run its movement.

"We have not changed our ideology on the issue. We will comment on the Ram Temple matter after the verdict is out on the 24th," Hussain told reporters.

Earlier in the day, the RSS said its response to the Ayodhya title suit verdict will be within the "law and Constitution" and indicated that further legal options can be availed of if the ruling is not upto its expectation. "Of course, the aspirations of the Hindu society is that there should be a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi. Our response to the verdict will be according to that wishes. We will try to ensure that Ram temple is constructed there," the RSS chief had said.

The BJP hit out at Law Minister Veerappa Moily for his remarks on the functioning of the Comptroller and Auditor General and accused the Congress of "weakening" corruption watchdog agencies in the country. "Corruption watchdog agencies like CVC, CAG are being weakened by the Congress party. The BJP has raised these issues time and again, including during the recent appointment of the CVC," the BJP spokesperson said.

He said the manner in which Moily spoke against the CAG yesterday was "unfortunate". The Union Law Minister had yesterday expressed dissatisfaction over the working of the Comptroller and Auditor General, saying their timely intervention could have prevented many scams and scandals.

Asked about any change in the equation between BJP and JD(U) after a senior leader of the Nitish Kumar-led party yesterday said the alliance will be reviewed over statements emanating from the main opposition over Narendra Modi campaigning in Bihar polls, Hussain said, "we have no differences with them, our alliance is firm."