Cong leaders become Hindu only during elections: Javadekar on Tharoor

Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Prakash Javadekar on Monday criticised Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor for his remark on Ram Temple and said, latter's statement ascertains that Congress leaders become Hindu only during elections.

Javadekar told ANI, "I was astonished to listen to Shashi Tharoor when he said that a true Hindu cannot wish for construction of Ram Temple at Ram Janmabhoomi. This absurd thinking can be part of Shashi Tharoor or Rahul Gandhi's thought but it is not the view of the country."

"This is a matter of country's faith. I believe this is not only a religious issue but whole of the country really wishes that Ram Temple must be constructed at Ram Janmabhoomi. This shows how cut off they are from reality and how they only become Hindu during elections," he added.

He further underscored the Bharatiya Janata Party's stand on this issue and said, "The fight to construct temple is not new. It is going on for 500 years since the temple was demolished to pave way for a controversial structure. It is now in Supreme Court. Our position is already very clear on the issue. A grand Ram Temple must be built either through the verdict of Supreme or by an amicable settlement between the two communities."

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday stated that "no good Hindu would want a temple at Babri Masjid site by demolishing somebody else's place of worship.