Ram Avtar Singh | HENB | Ayodhya | Sept 16, 2018:: Former BJP MP and the president of Ram Janambhoomi Nyas (VHP influenced apex body to build Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya)  has said that the ruling BJP has resolved to build the Ram temple and the construction will begin before 2019 elections. But, the Ayodhya Ram Temple- Babri Mosque case is currently pending in the Supreme Court. 

“BJP has resolved to build the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The construction of Ram Mandir will begin before the election of 2019 takes place,” Vedanti was quoted as saying by ANI. His statement comes a few days after Cabinet Minister Mukut Bihari Verma said that the Ram temple will be constructed since “the Supreme Court is in our hands”.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that “nobody can stop if once it is ordained by the gods.” He further said that the date for construction of the Ram temple will be set by Lord Ram himself.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya sparked another controversy when he said that there is no other way to resolve the Ayodhya land dispute “except bringing a Bill”. “I am fully confident that in such a situation and when we have adequate strength (in both Houses of Parliament), remember these two things,” he said.

Reportedly, Amit Shah had said in a gathering of party leaders in Hyderabad that all steps will be taken to ensure the construction of the temple before 2019 Lok Sabha elections, as per IANS. However, BJP later denied that Shah said this.

The matter also gained international dimensions earlier after Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa stating that the property comes under the Waqf Board and a temple cannot be built there. The Ayodhya land dispute case is currently in the Supreme Court.

But, the Indian Shi’ite Waqf Board favors to allow the disputed land for the construction of Ram Temple honoring the larger sentiment of the majority Hindus in India. They proposed construction of a mosque away from the disputed site.

A pressure in favor of urgent starting of Ram Temple is gradually increasing inside the Sangha Parivar and  BJP obviously. A section in the saffron party thinks delay of starting Ram Temple may create an deterrent effect on BJP’s Hindu vote bank, if the construction of Ram Temple is not started before ensuing parliamentary election.

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__with inputs from ANI & IANS.