Haryana Chief Minister also calls for the mosque to be constructed ‘at any other place’ but says BJP will respect SC verdict on the issue.
New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Friday called for a temple to be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya, claiming that it had been “proved true” that the site was indeed the birthplace of Lord Ram.
“As far as the Ram Mandir issue is concerned, it is a national issue and our line is that a solution can come out through internal dialogue or through the decision of the Supreme court,” Khattar said. “We are trying to make the people understand the fact that the disputed site is the birthplace of Lord Ram, which has been proved to be true.”
The chief minister further said that the mosque can be constructed “at any other place” as it is “not related to any person”. In the same breath, however, he maintained that the BJP would obey the Supreme Court decision on the issue.
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“As for the question of the mosque, it can be built at any other place according to their faith. The masjid is not related to any person while the mandir is directly related to Ram Chandraji,” said Khattar.
The chief minister was responding to queries on the contentious issue during a press conference in the national capital to announce the name of dignitaries expected to attend the International Gita Mahotsav to be held at Kurukshetra in Haryana between 7 and 23 December.
Khattar said that BJP president Amit Shah will inaugurate the event meant to promote the Bhagvad Gita. Former president Pranab Mukherjee, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Tripura Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki and his Assam and Odisha counterparts, Jagdish Mukhi and Ganeshi Lal respectively, are among the dignitaries expected to attend the event.
Khattar also announced that a Gita Sansad would be organised in 30 colleges in the state to discuss the importance of the Bhagvad Gita.
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Khattar’s comments on the disputed Babri Masjid issue come two days ahead of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Dharma Sansad, which will see Hindu religious leaders congregate and discuss the temple issue in Ayodhya Sunday.
The RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had in September triggered a debate on the issue, demanding that Ram temple should be constructed at the disputed soon and the government should bring an ordinance to facilitate it.