Sangh affiliate VHP wants ordinance on Ram Temple in winter session of Parliament, wants issue resolved before the end of the year.
New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an RSS affiliate, Friday decided that it would ‘order’ the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre to bring in an ordinance, this winter session, for the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
In a high-powered steering committee meeting of Hindu saints held at its headquarters in New Delhi, the VHP decided that representatives of Hindu religious institutions would build pressure on governors and MPs to raise the issue with the Prime Minister and in Parliament.
“We believe that bringing in an ordinance is not impossible. We hope that this can be brought in during the upcoming winter session,” said Alok Kumar, VHP, working president.
Also read: VHP wants ordinance on Ram temple construction, to launch movement soon
The high-powered committee met President Ramnath Kovind Friday and said he had assured them that he will write to the PM on the issue.
‘Was hopeful that matter would be resolved by September’
VHP president Alok Kumar said the organisation had been hopeful that the Supreme Court, under former Chief Justice Dipak Misra, would have finalised the matter by September.
Now, he said, the VHP has decided to push for the ordinance route.
“We hope that before the sun sets on 2018, obstructions in the way of the Ram temple construction are over,” Kumar said.
On the matter being sub-judice, Kumar, who is also an advocate, said, “The VHP is committed to the rule of law and will abide by it.”
Asked if the VHP will begin a movement against the BJP if it decides not to bring in the ordinance, Kumar said that decision will be taken in a dharm sansad (congregation of saints).
“On 31 January and 1 February, there will be a dharm sansad at Prayag and the way forward will be decided there if the government doesn’t fall in line on the Ram temple issue,” he said.
Alsoread:Want Ram temple at Ayodhya very soon, will remove cause of Hindu-Muslim tension: Bhagwat
Unclear how many hearts beat strongly enough for a temple in Ayodhya to swing the next general election. Net net, the religious / identity influences on governance over the last few years have done more harm than good, deflecting what ought to have been a laser like focus on development and giving rise to incidents of violence that have vitiated the atmosphere.