Show Some Courage, Start Ram Temple Construction in Ayodhya: Shiv Sena to BJP

Mumbai, October 15: The Shiv Sena on Monday called upon the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government to "show some courage" and pass an ordinance for the construction of the controversial Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking to ANI, Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, "They should show some courage; the Ram Temple issue has been their agenda for over 25 years now. Slogans like 'Mandir wahi banayenge', 'chalo Ayodhya', were ours as well, not just of the BJP. It is very unfortunate for the Hindus of the country that we have to raise the same slogans after so long."

Raut further stated that even Muslims of the region have agreed to the construction of the Temple, adding there is no reason left for the BJP to delay the construction as they have a majority in the Centre and the state, and a President who will pass the ordinance. Shashi Tharoor on Ram Mandir in Ayodhya: No Good Hindu Wants Temple by Razing Masjid.

"Despite a majority in Parliament, the Uttar Pradesh assembly, even the Rashtrapati Bhawan is ours, the Ram Temple is not being constructed. The saints and priests there are resorting to hunger strikes, protests," Raut said.

"Like you passed an ordinance in connection with the Triple Talaq to deliver justice to our Muslim sisters, you passed the SC/ST amendment, similarly pass an ordinance for the Ram Temple issue also. We have a majority in the LoK Sabha, the Vidhan Sabha, and a President who will sign the ordinance," Raut concluded.

The Shiv Sena have stepped up their demands over the Ram Temple issue in recent days, with the party, through its editorial mouthpiece Saamna, warning the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government that it will be thrown out of power if it fails to build the temple as promised.

Earlier, Raut told ANI that party president Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya in the near future upon the invitation of Janmejay Sharanji, the chief of Ram Janmabhoomi Trust.

A number of saints in Ayodhya have started protests over the delay in the construction of the temple. Swami Paramhans Das, Mahant of Ayodhya's Tapaswi Chhawni had been fasting since October 1, before he was detained by the police on October 8.

Additionally, a delegation of saints associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) met President Ram Nath Kovind on October 6, demanding the immediate construction of the temple.

The Babri Masjid was built by Mughal emperor Babur in Ayodhya in 1528. On December 6, 1992, the Masjid was pulled down allegedly by a group of Hindu activists, claiming that the mosque was constructed after demolishing a Ram Temple that originally stood there.