Shiv Sena: Don't let Ram temple issue go the Kashmir way

Mumbai, Jan 31 Pitching for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Shiv Sena on Thursday said the issue ought not become as complicated as the Kashmir matter, which is still awaiting resolution.

It also wondered why Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders were not holding the prime minister and other BJP leaders responsible for the delay in temple construction, rather than focusing on judges hearing the case.

"The construction of Ram temple ought not become as complicated as that of Jammu and Kashmir, where not a single arrangement is to be found in not so distant future," the Sena said in a publication in its party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

The BJP should quit pointing fingers at the Congress for stopping the temple construction, it said.

Facing growing pressure to move quickly on the Ram temple issue, the Modi government had on Tuesday requested that the Supreme Court enable it to restore the "non-debated" surplus land obtained around the questioned structure in Ayodhya to a Hindu trust and other original owners.

Commenting on the Centre's turn, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said if this was the arrangement, why the BJP-drove government couldn't consider it in most recent four years.

"It appears the BJP has concocted this proposition keeping (Lok Sabha) election as a main priority, which ought not have occurred. Yet, any decision in this nation from settling issues of hunger to Ram temple- is constantly taken with an eye on polls," the Marathi publication said.

The Sena, which is a constituent of the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra, said once the non-debated land is come back to the original owners, they can proceed with temple construction.

"No successor of (Mughal ruler) Babar will come to claim ownership on the debated land, which is merely 0.313 acre. Let others file petitions in the court over the disputed land but the temple construction can be started on the non-disputed land," it said.

The Sena also said it was still firm on its interest for bringing an ordinance for the temple construction.