Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik’s remark that a Ram Temple should be constructed in Ayodhya has led to a political storm. While Opposition parties termed Naik’s statement as yet another attempt by the BJP to “vitiate atmosphere”, the ruling party members sounded differently even as the Shiv Sena backed Naik. While some of the BJP members defended Naik, a few shied from involving the Centre in the issue and putting the ball in the jurisdiction of the court.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi refused to comment on the issue saying the matter is in the court but BJP MPs Vinay Katiyar and Sakshi Maharaj defended Naik’s statement. Katiyar said the structure will be built “sooner or later” and “no power in the world can stop this”.
Naik had on Thursday kicked up a controversy by saying that it is the desire of citizens of India that Ram Mandir is constructed as soon as possible and this wish should be fulfilled.
“Everyone has a right to his or her opinion even if he is a Governor, President or the Prime Minister. If the Governor has said it, then what mistake has he doneIJ The matter is in Supreme Court and a solution should be sought to this issue either through legal means or talks,” Katiyar said. Sakshi Maharaj said that when Ram Naik was named so by his parents they must have had something on their mind.
Shiv Sena also echoed the sentiment and extended its support to the Governor. “There is nothing wrong in his statement. Naik was active during the Ram Mandir movement. Now we have a chance to build a Ram temple, it is a national temple,” party leader Sanjay Raut said
Slamming the Governor’s statement, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav said it was the “same party who demolished the Babri masjid”. “These people demolished Babri masjid. They say sakba saath, sabka vikas..., but where is the development. They say there was a temple in place of Taj Mahal. I do not know what kind of temple was there,” he said. Another JD (U) member in Rajya Sabha KC Tyagi demanded Governor’s resignation over the matter.
Congress leader Rashid Alvi termed the Uttar Pradesh Governor’s statement as a ‘mockery of Constitution’ and said that the latter does not deserve to be a Governor. “Doesn’t Ram Naik know that this issue is pending in the Supreme CourtIJ A Governor making such a statement is mockery of the Constitution. After having pledged to uphold the Constitution if he makes such statement then he doesn’t deserve to be a Governor,” Alvi said.
While NCP MP Tariq Anwar said all these statement were pre-planned, Samjawadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal criticised the Governor and said if it is his personal comment then he should not make such comments because he is not a RSS member or a BJP member but Governor of a State.
However, another BJP MP Vinod Khanna chose to state diplomatically that if you dig out dead issues like the Ram Temple, then they become political. “These should not become election issues. Everyone has his wishes and dreams. (likewise) the dreams of the people of Kashmir are that there should be a change here,” Khanna told reporters in Srinagar.