Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh minister Mukut Bihari Varma stirred up a fresh controversy over the Ram temple issue by saying that there was no problem in building the Ram Mandir because “the Supreme Court is ours”. He further said that the judiciary, administration and the nation also belonged to “us”.
Talking to reporters in Bahraich, the minister said: “The construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is our resolve. The Supreme Court is ours. The judiciary, this country and the temple are ours too.”
He said though the BJP has come to power on the plank of development, the Ram temple would be built as it was a matter of faith and commitment. He was accompanied by another minister, Swami Prasad Maurya, when he made this statement. Mr Maurya, at the media interaction, termed Mr Rahul Gandhi as a “villain” and said that his pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarover was only for publicity.
The minister’s remarks evoked a strong reaction from the Opposition parties, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, who claimed that it amounted to contempt of court.
It may be recalled that last month, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya had said that if needed, the BJP would bring legislation in Parliament to remove hurdles in the Ram temple’s construction.
Meanwhile, after facing considerable heat, Mr Mukut Bihari Varma attacked the media and said that his statement was misconstrued. He explained that he did not say anything wrong and added since the country is “ours”, then so is the Supreme Court.
