‘Ram Temple work to begin by year-end’

BJP leader Dr Subramanian Swamy (R) with G. Rajagopalan, Additional Solicitor General of India and legal expert of Ram Janmabhoomi debate, during a discussion organised by the Virat Hindustan Sangam (VHS) on Sunday. (Photo: Shripad Naik)

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday claimed that Hindus would celebrate Ram Navami next year in a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya and that the work on the structure of the temple would begin by year-end. He also added that the temple would be ready in three months after the Supreme Court’s permission.

Mr Swamy confidently expressed that nothing other than a Ram Temple would be built at Ayodhya and that he had demanded that the Supreme Court should have daily hearings in the Ram Temple case.

Mr Swamy was speaking at a discussion organised by the Maharashtra chapter of Virat Hindustan Sangam (VHS), an organisation founded by him. According to the VHS website, the organisation is dedicated to “project correct history” and “how to achieve a balance of materialism and spiritualism in life”.

“Our demand is clear-cut. We will not compromise on the demand of three structures, namely Krishna temple in Mathura, Kashi Vishwanath temple in Allahabad and Ram Temple in Ayodhya,” Mr Swamy said.

The Maharashtra chapter of VHS organised the discussion on the topic: ‘Why Ram Temple at Ayodhya and how ’

Additional solicitor general of India, G. Rajagopalan also attended the discussion that brought to light the legal issues and evidence of the Archaeological Survey of India that revealed that a Ram Temple existed at the spot in the earlier days and that it was demolished in the year 1528 to construct a mosque.

When Mr Swamy was asked if the issue of Ram Temple was being highlighted in the backdrop of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh next year, he said, “All these are baseless allegations by the Opposition and other parties and if they feel constructing a Ram Temple will benefit the BJP, why do they not voluntarily support the cause In that case, it will benefit them too.”

Mr Swamy further said that he had discussed with Muslim leaders about willingly helping to build a Ram Temple in Ayodhya and they had agreed. “But, when the lawyers of the leaders attended the hearing in Supreme Court, they went silent on the issue and later the judge told me to get in writing from the leaders that they were willing to help. Even if they do not agree, I am positive that the Supreme Court will pass an order in our favour for constructing a Ram Temple and we have won 80 per cent of the case,” he claimed.

Earlier this year, Mr Swamy had moved the Supreme Court seeking construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. Mr Swamy had stated that under the practices in Islamic countries, a mosque can be shifted to any other place for public purposes and ‘namaaz’ can be offered anywhere.