Congress playing politics on temple issue: Maurya

After suggesting a legislative route for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya accused the Congress of playing politics on the issue and delaying the construction of the temple at Ram Janmabhoomi complex.

“Congress is putting a spanner on the move for early construction of Ram temple as it is seeing the issue through a political prism,” Maurya told ‘The Pioneer’ in Lucknow on Monday.

Claiming that the Bharatiya Janata Party governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh were committed to the construction of Ram temple, Maurya said that there were three options for the construction of the temple. 

“One, through a judicial injunction after Supreme Court settles the case, two, through an agreement between both the communities and, three, through a legislation,” he said.

Maurya said that the issue of bringing a legislation in Parliament was the last option as the BJP did not have enough numbers to ensure passage of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha. 

“There is pressure on the BJP from saints and others for bringing a legislation, as was done in the case of Somnath temple. But as the NDA lacks majority in the Rajya Sabha, it will not be advisable to move such a bill,” he said.

“We do not have the numbers. But if the Congress joins us and allows passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha, it can be passed. The Congress is playing a double game as it is blocking the construction of Ram temple. It had even opposed day-to-day hearing of the Ayodhya issue in the Supreme Court and is doing everything to linger on the arguments,” Maurya said. 

He further alleged that due to the Congress, the bill on triple talaq had to be postponed in Parliament. 

“In order to appease a section of society, the Congress is just interested in taking political mileage on the Ram temple issue,” he stated.

When asked if the government would bring the Ram temple bill in the winter session of Parliament, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “The government will do whatever is required for early construction of the Ram temple but will also opt for a legal view.”

Lauding the Narendra Modi government for bringing an Act which gave constitutional status to Backward Commission, Maurya said that the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre had proved its credentials by launching several people-oriented projects and schemes.