UP will vote for "roti, kapda, makan" and not Ram museum: CPI (M)

Brushing aside notions that Lord Ram issue would help the BJP gain electoral benefits in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Tuesday alleged that the people are well aware of the saffron party's game-plan and would only vote for 'roti, kapda and makan'.

"We believe that people would only vote in the name of 'roti, kapda and makaan', not Ram Museum and when this government came to power these things have only deteriorated," CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said.

Yechury said the BJP, which miserably failed in fulfilling its promise made to the nation during the 2014 general elections, is trying to distract the people's attention as part of its desperate attempts to gain power in the state.

"Such is the level of desperation they fall back upon. And they have failed to fulfill every single promise they have made at the time of elections. This is just to distract people's attention," he added.

The BJP-led Central government has been drawing opposition parties' ire ever since they announced to construct a museum for Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

However, Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma has said that the museum is being built only to boost tourism and is not a political gimmick.

"This is to boost tourism, which has been the main focus of our Prime Minister. Development is a continuous process under which this work is being initiated. So, this is not a political gimmick," he said.