Delay in ordinance for Ram temple indicates BJP not interested: Raut

November 18, 2018 16:10

Pressing for an ordinance to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, National Democratic Alliance constituent Shiv Sena has said the delay in exercising the option is an indication that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh was not keen on building it.

Senior Shiv Sena leader and party MP Sanjay Raut said if the NDA government can bring an ordinance on banning instant triple talaq then why not take the same route to remove hurdles for the construction of the Ram temple, which is a 'matter of pride' for the nation.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which helped the BJP come to power in 2014, should pull down the National Democratic Alliance government if it fails to bring an ordinance for construction of the temple, he said.

Raut's remarks comes ahead of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on November 25, during which the party is likely to declare its next course of action on the issue.

"We never use the issue of Ram Mandir for elections. But those who wish to do it, we feel they don't want the Ram Mandir," Raut told PTI in an interview.

"If you want the Ram Mandir then legislate a law," he said.

Raut, who is also executive editor of the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Dainik Saamana, claimed that when the BJP came to power for the first time in the 1990s, it cited a lack of absolute majority in Parliament and power in Uttar Pradesh for not coming up with a legislation for the construction of Ram Temple.

Today, BJP has absolute majority at the Centre as well as in Uttar Pradesh, but it has 'failed' to resolve the long-pending issue, he said.

"If you can bring an amendment to the triple talaq bill and the SC and ST Act, then why not on Ram Mandir. If this is the will and demand of the people and you have seized power because of the same issue will then you have to accept it," the Sena MP said.

Though the Shiv Sena and the BJP are in alliance, both at the Centre and in Maharastra, there has been an increasing bitterness in their ties. -- PTI

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