'Govt expediting Ram Temple matter'

Mumbai: Just ahead of the general elections, the BJP-led government has expedited the process of construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya by making an application in the apex court for providing the land to Ram Janma Bhoomi Nyas, the Shiv Sena said in an editorial in its party mouthpiece Saamana on Wednesday. At the same time, the Sena has also warned the government that the issue of Ram Janma Bhoomi should not be made as complicated as the Kashmir matter.

It said that had the government taken this decision four years ago, this decision would have gone 100 steps ahead. But a decision in connection with Ram Temple and hunger will be taken with the view on vote banks and elections.

The Sena also wondered why Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders were not holding the Prime Minister and other BJP leaders accountable for the delay in temple construction instead of targeting judges hearing the case.

The editorial also asked the BJP to stop repeatedly pointing fingers at the Congress for halting the temple construction. Mr Modi had himself said that Ram temple issue is in the apex court, which would resolve this issue. The Sena also felt that Mr Modi should not have made this statement in the public.

The party also suggested the government to bring an ordinance for the construction of Ram temple.  As pressure to move swiftly on the Ram temple issue is growing, the Central government had, on Tuesday, asked the Supreme Court to allow it to return the “non-disputed” surplus land acquired around the disputed structure in Ayodhya to a Hindu trust and other owners.