Stones arrive from Gujarat and Rajasthan near the controversial site to build a Ram Temple in Ayodhya. (Photo courtesy: ANI)
Addressing a press meeting after the Winter Session of Parliament came to an end on Wednesday, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu waded into the ‘Ram Mandir’ construction debate.
He said, “Every Indian wants Ram Mandir in this country. When and where is important subject!”
#BREAKING | All Indians want that Ram Mandir is built: @MVenkaiahNaidu (ANI) pic.twitter.com/4mhO3gs6ol
— News World India (@NewsWorldIN) December 23, 2015
Legal stakeholders in the long-standing Ayodhya land dispute have sought an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi following the arrival of two trucks of stones for constructing a Ram temple at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid, and a Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader’s implication that the move had the Union government’s blessing.
Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha’s proceedings were briefly disrupted twice in the pre-lunch session on Wednesday over the issues of a Ram temple in Ayodhya and alleged irregularities in the DDCA.
Opposition Congress, SP and JD-U in Rajya Sabha raised the issue of stones arriving in Ayodhya from Gujarat and Rajasthan for construction of the Ram Temple, forcing a brief adjournment.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, K C Tyagi (JD-U) said the circumstances for a communally-charged atmosphere are being created ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Two truck loads of stones for construction of the temple have reportedly arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week.
Such activities are being planned “only to charge up the atmosphere,” he said, quoting a reported statement by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das that there was a “signal” from the Modi government that the temple will be built “now”.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said stone carving for construction of the temple has been going at a site 1.5 km away from the disputed site since 1990.
The government and the BJP are of the view that the court decision on the dispute should be accepted, he said.
There was no ban on carving of stones and the religious leaders quoted have been living in Ayodhya, he said, adding that stone carving does not mean that the temple was being built.
“Please wait for court decision. All of us should respect it,” he said.
But the opposition members were not satisfied by the statement and moved into the Well of the House shouting slogans like “UP Mein Dange Ki Saazish Band Karo (Stop conspiracy to incite communal violence).”
Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there was no confusion after Naqvi’s statement that the government and party will go by the court verdict.
“Why do you disturb the Zero Hour? Why do you agitate? The Minister has made it clear that the government will go by the court decision. It is unnecessary. Go back,” he told to the agitating members.
But none heeded to his pleas, forcing him to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
On Sunday, VHP leader Nritya Gopal Das had performed a prayer ceremony of stones that arrived from Rajasthan at Kar Sevak Puram, the VHP’s headquarters at Ayodhya managed by the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas, the organisation set up to promote the construction of the temple.
“Now the time has come for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya,” Das told the media after the ceremony. “A lot of stones arrived today in Ayodhya and the arrival of stones will continue. We have signals from the Modi government that the Ram Mandir will be constructed now.”
Das’ assertions raised the hackles of the main litigants in the dispute over the plot of land considered by Hindus as the birthplace of Lord Ram.
(With PTI inputs)