Bhagwat reiterates demand for law on Ram temple

Nagpur: Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that an ordinance on Ram temple can come only after the legal process is over, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said “irrespective of what the Prime Minister says, my stance is clear on the issue. We have faith in Ram and also strongly believe the temple should be built at the site in Ayodhya”.
Talking to newspersons at the sidelines of a function in Sewadan School here, Bhagwat told reporters he endorsed the statement by Bhaiyyaji Joshi, RSS Sarkaryavaha, his deputy, which came soon after the prime minister’s interview on Monday.

Joshi who spoke to newspersons on Monday, said RSS was firm on its stance that it wanted a law on building the temple at Ayodhya. Clarifying he was not aware of what Modi’s statement was, Joshi said everyone in the country wanted Ram temple to be built and even those in power had made claims about it.

A day later Bhagwat said he fully agreed with what Joshi said. However, a tweet on RSS’s official handle which soon followed the prime minster’s interview, appeared to be agreeing with Modi’s statement in the TV interview. It read, “we feel the statement by Prime Minister is a positive step in the direction of temple construction. The Prime Minister reiterating the resolve to construct a grand Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya in his interview is in tune with the resolution passed by BJP at Palampur in 1989.”

In the same thread, Dattareya Hosabale, Sah Sarkayavaha who is next to Joshi, had tweeted, “the people of Bharat have reposed complete confidence and gave BJP the full mandate. The people of Bharat expect this government to fulfil the same promise during this tenure.”

Commenting on Hosabale’s tweet Bhagwat pointed out at the hierarchy in RSS. He said Joshi as the Sarkaryavaha was second only to Sarsanghchalak (chief). As RSS Akhil Bhartiya Pratinihdhi Sabha held in Nagpur in March, there were speculations that Hosabale might replace Joshi. However, Joshi’s term was eventually extended.

Last month at a public rally attended by VHP leaders, Bhagwat had virtually launched the temple movement saying its finally time to act. The speakers at the meet had also targeted Modi over the issue.

Earlier in his speech Bhagwat made an oblique reference about future of the current regime. Speaking on education policy he said “the policy needs to be changed. It is learnt a new policy has been framed but there is not much time left. Its implementation depends on how things take shape in the future.”