Ayodhya temple not priority: Rajnath

Modi govt's focus is development, he says, while defending RSS ideology

Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that development was the Narendra Modi government’s priority, not constructing a Ram temple in Ayodhya.

At a media conference on the government completing a year, Singh said: “All issues are important. But we have to fix priorities. Now, we are working on the development agenda. As you are aware, the Ram temple is a sub judice issue (pending before a court). We have to wait for the verdict. But the two communities may hold talks on the issue and find a solution.”

 

Earlier this month, Singh had said in Ayodhya that the government being in a minority in the Rajya Sabha would make it difficult to pass any law to facilitate construction of the temple.

On influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the government, Singh said: "I am an RSS swayamsevak (volunteer). I believe in RSS ideology, as it promotes an India where all 72 sects of Islam exist. RSS promotes an Indian culture due to which a 2,000 year-old church exists in Kerala. RSS promotes Indian culture by virtue of which Parsis from Iran are given utmost respect here. RSS also promotes an Indian culture where Jews are respected.”

 

On performance of the government, her said: “The score as of now is one strong year, with no loss of wicket.”

What, he was asked, about ‘hit wicket’ instances by ministers like Mukhtas Abbas Naqvi, who asked those who ate beef to go to Pakistan? “Shouldn’t (Rajnath’s deputy in the home ministry, Kiren) Rijiju, who reportedly said he ate beef, be sent to Pakistan?” Singh was asked.

“All those who are in India will stay in India," Singh said, Rijiju next to him.

The minister also declared no minister in the Modi government was ‘ashakta’ (powerless), and all of them believed in the philosophy of ‘less talk and more work’. “Nobody should have any doubt...the prime minister is running the government,” he said.

 

Asked whether the PM spoke too much in comparison to ministerial colleagues, as alleged by Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, he said the PM spoke whenever there was a necessity. “In my case, I get publicity even without speaking,” he said.

Singh denied the Centre had any plans “as of now” to hold talks with separatist groups in Jammu & Kashmir. He said the security scenario in the country was peaceful last year, barring a blast in Burdwan, West Bengal, and a small explosion in Bengaluru. He claimed violence by leftwing extremists had dipped 22 per cent in 2014 and 132 terrorists on J&K were neutralised. However, recent attacks in Chhattisgarh were a cause of concern.

He said biometric details of 284 million people had been completed under the National Population Register. Total biometric enrolment, including that done for Aadhaar by the Unique Identification Authority of India, is now 850 million.