UP minister sacked over his 'Ram and Krishna temple' comment

Ompal Nehra, a senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader, and a minister in the Uttar Pradesh Government, has been stripped of his ministerial post after commenting that Muslims must give up their claims on mosques in Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi and help build temples in those places.

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Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav sacked Nehra, an advisor in the state entertainment tax department, this morning sacked him for making the comment at a function last evening.

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The minister, however, defended himself by saying, "I said that since the BJP doesn't have any issue in Uttar Pradesh except Ram Mandir, then the issue should be closed once and for all."

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Speaking to ANI, he said that he was informed by the District Magistrate about this last evening.

"I said that secular leadership and Muslim intellectuals should come together and find a solution to this," he added.

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The sacked minister had yesterday said, "Where can a Ram temple be built if not at Ayodhya? Muslims should help in building a Ram temple in Ayodhya and a Krishna temple in Mathura and give up their claim on mosques there. In fact I would say that Muslims should join Kar Seva (volunteer) for the Ram temple."

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The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has been gathering truckloads of stones for a temple at the site in Ayodhya, where the Babri Masjid once stood, and was destroyed by Hindu fanatics in 1992.