Firebrand BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Vinay Katiyar claimed that if the BJP formed the government in UP, it will speed up the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya.
“Victory in UP will increase our strength in the Rajya Sabha and it will be a moral boost for the party to pass a Bill in the Upper House of Parliament, if required,” Katiyar told reporters in lucknow on Monday.
Admitting that the party was contesting the polls on the issue of development hence Ram Temple was not in its agenda, the MP said: “We are contesting UP polls on the issue of development. People very well know that when our government is formed, we will expedite the process of temple construction.”
Elaborating on the ways and means through which the Ram temple could be built, the BJP leader said: “The High Court itself has acknowledged that it was Ram temple there. Now, if we do not get justice from Supreme Court, we will pass a Bill in Parliament. We will require bigger strength in Rajya Sabha. Majority in UP will help us achieve that.”
Though maintaining that the BJP was not making it an agenda in these elections, Katiyar said, ‘’Ram Temple is not an issue in the elections. But I am sure that win in UP will pave way for early construction of the temple.’’
Criticising Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi an outsider, Katiyar said before commenting on the PM, Rahul Gandhi should first get a bride for himself. “let’s see how his bride is, we want to see her. We hope he will invite us to the marriage,” Katiyar added.
The BJP leader also lambasted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra terming her as a tourist to UP. “ UP is like a picnic place for her and she comes only during elections”.
Katiyar further said that the Congress will lose in Amethi- Rae Bareli and there was no impact of Vadra. ‘’Gandhi is sitting on SP president Akhilesh Yadav’s bicycle, where will Priyanka sit IJ There is no scope for her in this alliance,” he quipped.
When asked about the infighting in BJP over selection of candidates for the UP polls, the BJP leader, said: “There is no infighting as such. Yes, on some seats there has been dispute in choice of candidate. But that will not have much impact in the elections as now all are united under the party umbrella.’’
Hitting out at the SP-BSP, Katiyar refuting any post-poll alliance of BJP with any party, said it was the Samajwadi Party which formed the government in alliance with the BSP in the state first.
“Chances are that ‘Bua’ and ‘Bhatija’ may join hands post election,” Katiyar claimed.