BJP, RSS using 'inconclusive' Ram Mandir debate for political gains: Congress

Criticising Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat's statement over the Ram Mandir issue, the Congress Party on Thursday said that the former along with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were trying to prop up an inconclusive debate and using it for political gains.

"This is something which the RSS and the BJP keeps propping every time the elections come. They have used the issue of the Ram Mandir to push themselves electorally. From two seats to 200 seats, it is only because of their politicising the Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid movement," Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit told ANI.

"Right now the whole issue is with the court and rather than to pursue the case in courts, they only make political statements because large number of people supported the RSS and the BJP thinking that they are actually true about the Ram Mandir issue and propaganda that has spread regarding it, people got moved by," he added.

The Congress leader insisted that the BJP or the RSS or the VHP or the Hindu Mahasabha don't have any show concrete evidence to the court.

"They are trying to take advantage of the fact that they have propped up an inconclusive debate and then using it for political purposes," said Dikshit.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had on Wednesday said he hopes that the proposed Ram temple will be built at Ayodhya during his lifetime.

"The temple will be built within my lifetime.May be, we will see it with our own eyes. None can say when and how the temple will be constructed, but we need to be prepared and ready," Bhagwat said in addressing a programme in Kolkata.

"We need to plan it carefully. A good mix of 'josh' (passion) and 'hosh' (sanity) is needed to complete the work which Ram and Sharad had initiated," he added.