Modi govt committed to Ram Temple, Article 370, uniform civil code, wait for two-thirds majority: Amit Shah
The cat is finally out of the bag. Much to the chagrin of the Government of India's "liberal" supporters around the world who swear by its developmental agenda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-hand man, BJP chief Amit Shah, has made it clear that the ruling party has not left its "core agenda" -- including building Ram Temple at Ayodhya through a law in Parliament, and abrogation of Article 370, which would put an end to the special status to Jammu & Kashmir, and having a uniform civil code.
With Sangh Parivar affiliates, especially Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), pitching for "legalizing" the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya at the site where the Babri Masjid stands, Shah has reportedly said that ruling party would address “core issues” of building a Ram temple at Ayodhya, repealing Article 370 and introducing a uniform civil code in the country is very much part of the agenda.
However, there is a snag imposed upon the party by the current democratic setup. These, he said, cannot be addressed till the party has two-thirds majority in Parliament. “We don't have enough mandate to address core issues. We need 370 seats, according to the Constitution, to address these,” Shah said, talking with newspersons at the BJP headquarters.
The remarks come close on the heels of the VHP passing a resolution at Haridwar, asking the Government of India to "enact" a legislation to clear the way for construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Significantly, earlier this month, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, speaking in Ayodhya, said that his government would not be able to address the "core issues" such as enacting a legislation, since the NDA was in minority in the Rajya Sabha.
Refusing to sound negative on Shah’s statement, VHP joint general secretary Surendrakumar Jain said the BJP chief did not refer to the issues of Ram Temple, abrogating Article 370 as “contentious” issues but had referred to them “core issues.” Only, he believed, the BJP had been given mandate not just for development. but also to deliver on the "core issues", and it much "construct temple for its political survival.”
The VHP resolution passed at Haridwar, focusing on the "core issues", said a decision had been taken to press on them "to sort out issues blocking the temple construction". It expressed “sadness that the country could not rebuild even three of the 30,000 Hindu temples destroyed by Islamic invaders”.
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| VHP leaders at Haridwar |
The release added that they would not let a mosque or any Islamic cultural centre or monument to be built within the “cultural boundaries of Ayodhya” which involve as many as six districts of Uttar Pradesh. "Nor should any structure in the name of Mughal emperor Babur be erected anywhere in India", the VHP said.
"Ayodhya's cultural boundary is the place of Sri Ram's 'Krida, Leela and Sanskar'. Every year, thousands of devotees visit these places which have hundreds of pilgrimage sites. No Islamic prayer place or cultural structure will be built in this area. And nothing in the name of Babur will be erected anywhere in India," the resolution said.
The resolution claimed, "The court has accepted that the temple there was demolished by Babur in 1528. The government had given an affidavit that if the same was proved, it would hand over the entire land for temple construction. The government will have to keep its word."
"Ayodhya's cultural boundary is the place of Sri Ram's 'Krida, Leela and Sanskar'. Every year, thousands of devotees visit these places which have hundreds of pilgrimage sites. No Islamic prayer place or cultural structure will be built in this area. And nothing in the name of Babur will be erected anywhere in India," the resolution said.
The resolution claimed, "The court has accepted that the temple there was demolished by Babur in 1528. The government had given an affidavit that if the same was proved, it would hand over the entire land for temple construction. The government will have to keep its word."
Around 100 saints affiliated with the VHP attended the meet, VHP said. Many saints called Modi "Hinduwadi" and "our PM".
Among other demands, the VHP said, water rafting in the Ganga, one of Uttarakhand's most popular sporting activities, should be "banned" as it gives rise to obscene activities on riverbanks. Young people of both sexes come to these rafting camps, mingle, drink and indulge in objectionable activities on the banks of the holy river, where sadhus and sants gather to meditate, it alleged.
Among other demands, the VHP said, water rafting in the Ganga, one of Uttarakhand's most popular sporting activities, should be "banned" as it gives rise to obscene activities on riverbanks. Young people of both sexes come to these rafting camps, mingle, drink and indulge in objectionable activities on the banks of the holy river, where sadhus and sants gather to meditate, it alleged.
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