Sting in the tail: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Brushing aside alternative proposals, RSS boss Mohan Bhagwat told a conference of Hindu religious leaders that only a Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya and nothing else. The temple pitch is being raised as usual before the crucial state elections of Himachal and Gujarat.
Ahead of Gujarat elections, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday raised the pitch for a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it will be constructed only at the disputed site and “nothing else” will be built there.
“The Ram temple will be constructed at the site of Ramjanmabhoomi and nothing else will be built. It will be constructed and that too in its original form and with the same stones. It will be built under the leadership of those who led this movement and have been holding its flag for 20-25 years,” he said at a three-day ‘Dharam Sansad’ of the VHP here.
“Time has come close. We have to be very careful and take steps one by one. We don’t have to think about anything else.
“For the welfare of Hindu society and for the universal welfare of the world, let the Ram temple be built at Ramjanbhoomi in Ayodhya. This is my only wish,” Bhagwat said after the head of Pejawar Mutt, Vishweshateertha Swamiji, said that construction of Ram temple would begin within one year after crossing all hurdles.
This is for the first time that Bhagwat has spoken so vehemently on the Ram temple issue in a public address.
His comments assume significance in the context of renewed mediation attempts by Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to find a solution to the dragging dispute in Ayodhya.
The Shia Central Wakf Board said earlier this week that it was ready to build a mosque in Lucknow so that the temple could be built in Ayodhya, a proposal which was also submitted to the Supreme Court.
Recalling his association with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackarey, Bhagwat said: “Balasaheb once told me clearly that you cannot build Ram temple by kar sewa only. It needs a tough fight which may take even 20 to 30 years. If you continue with this fight then there is a possibility of construction of Ram temple in 20 to 30 years.
He said ‘swayamsewaks’ often come to him and ask when the temple will come up in Ayodhya.
“I do not say anything to them as I am not an astrologer. It started in 1990. What Balasaheb used to say, we have completed 20 years in 2010 and would complete 30 years in 2020. His words would not go in vain,” he said.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists tore down the 16th century Babri Mosque at Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, claiming it had been built after destroying an original Ram temple. The VHP then raised a makeshift Ram temple, saying it was where Lord Ram was born.
Meanwhile, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of “playing with fire” on the issue of Ram temple with its “obnoxious” statements.
Reacting to Mohan Bhagwat’s comments that “only Ram Mandir and nothing else” will be built at the disputed site in Ayodhya, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief told TimesNow news channel: “This is a very delicate matter and RSS is playing with fire on this issue.
“The obnoxious statement by the RSS chief clearly gives a message that the RSS is assuming to be the Supreme Court. The RSS is trying to give a message that they know what the judgement of the apex court will be, and that would be on the basis of ‘aastha’ (faith) but not on evidence or Constitution,” he added.
He said that by making such “obnoxious statements” the RSS is trying to convey that it would go ahead with its plans to make India a Hindutva country “come what may”. Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and RSS of trying to create an atmosphere of fear, Owaisi said that this kind of politics is not good for the country.
“They want to make this a political issue so that they can gain some benefits in Gujarat elections or perhaps in 2019 (Lok Sabha polls) as well. I hope that the Supreme Court would take notice of this devious design being laid out by the Sangh Parivar,” he said.
Defending Bhagwat’s comments, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy said the RSS chief did mention that he has reached this conclusion after seeing all the documents related to the case.
“What is the obnoxious in this? He has made an absolutely logical statement. I too have made this statement earlier because the arguments are very strong,” Swamy said.
Reacting to Owaisi’s comments, Swamy said that attacking Bhagwat “is a favourite sport with some Muslim leaders” and added that the AIMIM leader has no locus standi in the case.
“I am sure there is no locus standi for Mr Owaisi in this case. Masjid can be built anywhere but temple for Ram Lalla cannot be built anywhere except for the place where he is assumed to be born by faith,” he said. (IANS)