BJP can only heap votes not bring constitutional solution: Congress on Ram Mandir issue

Taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which has promised to bring a constitutional solution to the Ram Mandir issue in its manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Congress Party on Sunday said the promises are part of Jumla as the issue is being used only to heap votes and not bring a permanent solution to the issue.

"It's a damp squib. It's a rehash of some old promises. If they are talking about constitutional solution to the Ram Janmabhumi/ Babri issue if that is the case then where was this constitutional solution when you broke the Masjid. Why is that before 1991-92 you did not think of a constitutional solution? So it's very clearly a Jumla from them because they can't bring the Mandir as it was only something which brings votes to you," Congress leader Sandeep Diskshit told ANI.

The BJP, where it unveiled an election manifesto, promised to push for a temple to Hindu god Ram if it won power in Uttar Pradesh.

"The government under the BJP rule will follow constitutional norms and build Ram Mandir in Uttar Pradesh. By winning more than 300 seats, the BJP would form the government," he said.

Shah asserted that there is no difference between building Ram Mandir and development.

Days after declaring that a "grand" temple will be built in Ayodhya if BJP gets majority, state unit chief Keshav Prasad Maurya sought on Friday to make amends, saying it would be built after Supreme Court's order but Uttar Pradesh will see 'Ram Rajya' if his party wrests power.

While releasing the manifesto, called 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra' (Pledge for People's Welfare), the BJP president said the party will form government in Uttar Pradesh with a two-third majority.

As parties brace for assembly elections in seven states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat in 2017, the Supreme Court earlier ruled that "religion, race, caste, community or language would not be allowed to play any role in the electoral process" and that election of a candidate would be declared null and void if an appeal is made to seek votes on these considerations.