Development, education useless if Ram temple is not constructed: Vinay Katiyar

Asserting that construction of Ram temple is more important than bringing development and providing education, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vinay Katiyar on Monday said that no progress is of any use until a temple for the Hindu deity is built in Ayodhya.

Katiyar who was here to cast his vote said that the people of Ayodhya want Ram temple and assured that it will be constructed.

"Development has been done in the region, employment, education has also been provided, but without Ram Mandir everything is useless. The people of Ayodhya want Ram Mandir and it will be constructed," Katiyar said after casting his vote from here.

Katiyar also backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'crematory-graveyard' remark and said that the latter was just talking in favours of both and there is anything wrong in it.

The Fifth phase of Uttar Pradesh assembly elections for 51 seats spread across 12 districts began today.

The fifth phase will decide the fate of 607 candidates who are in the fray in this phase with maximum of 24 candidates in Amethi and minimum of six each in Kapilvastu and Etwa seats of Siddharth Nagar district.

A total of 1.84 crore voters will exercise their franchise at 18,822 polling booths today.

The districts which are going for polls are Amethi, Sultanpur, Faizabad, Barabanki, Ambedkarnagar, Baharaich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Basti, Siddharthnagar and Sant Kabir Nagar.