Government firm in building temple: Union Minister

Speaking at a function on Tuesday, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma said his government is committed to building the Ram Temple at Ayodhya but would wait for the Supreme Court verdict or arrive at a “mutual understanding” on constructing the temple. 

“Our party and government have already given their mandate on this issue. We want to build Ram Mandir, but we will either follow the Supreme Court’s order or would come at a common conclusion about constructing the Mandir. This is why it is taking time,” he said. “BJP is committed to build Ram Temple and even the people of the country want the same. But the issue is pending in court,” he said. 

Sharma’s comments on Ayodhya come close on the heels of a VHP spokesman stating that the first lot of stones for the Ram temple have arrived in Ayodhya. VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma had recently said that “Two trucks of stones have been unloaded at Ram Sewak Puram, a VHP property in Ayodhya, and ‘Shila Pujan’ has been performed by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, the president of Ram Janam Bhumi Nyas.” Das had said that there was a “signal” from the Modi government that the temple will be built “now”. With his remarks sparking a controversy, Sharma later stressed that senior party leaders will take a decision on the issue. 

“Till an order is issued or mutual understanding arrived at, BJP should follow the situation. Our senior party leader or government will take decision,” he said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has stressed that steps will be taken on the direction of the court. “The Ram Mandir issue is in court. Steps will be taken on the direction of the court and this is a non-political issue,” he said.