The Opposition, including Congress, SP and JD(U), vociferously protested on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha on the issue of stones ferried to Ayodhya for construction of Ram temple there leading to a brief adjournment. The Opposition also charged the BJP with trying to raise communal passions in UP.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi rejected the charge and said the Government and his party was committed to respect the Supreme Court decision as the case of Ramjanambhoomi-Babri Masjid is pending there. He also said stone carving was on since 1990 in Ayodhya and the construction of a Ram temple was taking place more than one-and-half-km away from the disputed site.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, JD(U) member KC Tyagi said circumstances for a communally-charged atmosphere were being created ahead of Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.
He was joined by the SP and Congress members. They were not satisfied with Naqvi’s reply and started raising slogans. Congress and SP members also came into the Well to register their protest even as Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the Minister has clarified the Government’s position. The Chair then adjourned the House for ten minutes.
When the House reassembled, in an apparent reference to the Ayodhya issue, Pramod Tiwari (Congress) said the Government runs according to the Constitution and if something is pending in the apex court, it cannot be discussed outside.
Expressing concern over internal security, Digvijay Singh (Congress) said Tyagi should be allowed to go ahead with his statement on the Ayodhya issue.