RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has talked of Ram temple issue more than once in the past week; now VHP wants BJP to take a call at the earliest.
New Delhi: About a week after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat raked up the issue of the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has decided to launch a movement to put pressure on the BJP-led NDA government to bring an ordinance to ensure it, instead of waiting for the Supreme Court to deliver a ruling on the matter.
At a meeting Sunday, the VHP was learnt to have discussed the issue of Ram temple with members of its Uttar Pradesh unit. A leader privy to deliberations said directions have been given in the meeting to launch a movement in support of the temple.
The objective is to build pressure on the government to bring in an ordinance, he said.
Also read: Want Ram temple at Ayodhya very soon, will remove cause of Hindu-Muslim tension: Bhagwat
The VHP is going to host a meeting of saints on 5 October to “seek directions” from them on the issue of Ram temple. “We will get directions from them and work accordingly,” said another VHP leader.
“This could be the only logical step as government has already brought in an ordinance on triple talaq and had intervened on the issue of SC/STs. Let other political parties protest…all will be exposed,” he added.
However, Alok Kumar, working international president of VHP, played down the discussions.
“Today (Sunday), we had a meeting but it was about sorting out organisational issues. It was also related to Kumbh preparations,” he told ThePrint.
He said that the temple issue has been reserved for the 5 October meeting of saints.
The RSS push
In the past week, the RSS chief has reiterated, more than once, the Sangh’s desire to have Ram temple built in Ayodhya “as soon as possible”.
The demand for a quick decision has come at a time when Lok Sabha elections are just months away. The BJP has come under criticism from its ideological parent, the RSS, and its affiliates for dragging its feet on the Ram temple issue.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat first mentioned it at the organisation’s three-day conclave at Vigyan Bhawan where he stressed on the “immediacy” the matter.
The second time Bhagwat spoke about Ram temple was at a book launch programme — in the presence of BJP chief Amit Shah, he said while it was the government’s prerogative to bring an ordinance, further delay on the Ram temple issue was not advisable.
“There can be only one birthplace…people believe Ram was born at the temple site…” Bhagwat said at the event.
“…but if some people say there was no Ram and there was no temple… then we, intellectuals and politicians sitting here, can exercise some restraint. But what about those living in villages? Can they exercise restraint? the RSS chief asked.
Bhagwat also said that that delaying the construction of temple is like “ignoring the truth”.
The BJP didn’t even discuss Ram temple in its national executive, leaving many in the party wonder whether it is serious about the issue.
Also read: VHP passes resolution to build Ram temple, to move top court for daily hearings in case
Now, the fresh pitch by the RSS chief is seen as a message to the BJP to take a decision on the matter before the crucial elections.
The case
The Supreme Court is currently hearing 14 appeals filed against the 2010 Allahabad High Court verdict on the ownership of the disputed land in Ayodhya.
The high court, in a 2:1 ruling, had ordered that the land be partitioned equally among three parties — the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and Ram Lalla.