Congress leader P Chidambaram in Delhi Monday. (Photo: Anil Sharma)
As demand for promulgation of an ordinance or legislation for early construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya came from Sangh Parivar outfits Monday, the Congress accused the BJP of using the issue for making electoral gains. The CPI, a constituent of the Left Front, slammed the BJP and the Sangh Parivar and said that India is not a “theocratic state”.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said the BJP raises the Ram temple issue to polarise the electorate before the elections every five years and argued that everyone should wait for the Supreme Court judgment on the matter.
Chidambaram said, “This is a familiar story. Every five years before the election, the BJP will try to polarise views on Ram Mandir…. The Congress party’s position, as I understand, is that the matter is before the Supreme Court and everyone should wait until the Supreme Court decides the questions before the Supreme Court…”
Asked about the demand for an ordinance for ensuring construction of a temple in Ayodhya, he said, “Ordinances are decided by the executive — the government — so if someone is asking for an ordinance, it is for the Prime Minister to respond, if he will respond at all to any issue.”
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said religion is a matter of faith and linking this issue to vote-bank politics will be a disservice to the nation. “We are a constitutional democracy. Those who have taken their oath of office, whether as Union ministers or chief ministers, must respect that oath and the Constitution. They should speak with restraint and balance and not be prescriptive, or issue diktats to the Supreme Court,” he said.
“Everyone should wait for the Supreme Court verdict. Our position is unequivocally clear: we will accept and honour the Supreme Court judgment wholeheartedly,” Sharma added.
Senior CPI leader D Raja said, “India is not a theocratic state. We are secular democratic state, and the State will have to remain neutral to all religions. How can they demand (an) ordinance? It is against the Constitution, and against Parliamentary democracy.”