Vijaywargiya calls for consensus on 'Ram Mandir' construction

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Kailash Vijaywargiya on Sunday called for a consensus on the Ram Mandir controversy and said that the temple should be constructed without any delay.

"Lord Ram has been forced to live in an incompletely constructed temple for 23 years now and it is the ardent desire of his devotees to see him back in his abode in Ayodhya. Time has come for a consensus to be drawn over the row and formulate a solution so that Sri Ram can return in his temple," Vijaywargiya tweeted.

The senior BJP leader's comments come on the 23rd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, which is being observed amid heightened security in the temple town, especially in Rudauli and Bhadarsa.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has said that it would "set a date and expect" that the Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya soon. VHP spokesperson Subhash Malik yesterday said that they would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, "reminding him that it was the promise of the temple that helped the BJP ride to power".

Earlier, the Shiv Sena had asked Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat to announce a date for the commencement of the construction of the temple.

"The Ram Temple issue raised by Mohan Bhagwat has to be answered only by the BJP. We welcome the role played by the RSS in this context. What we would like to advise them is to announce a date and start the construction work," the Sena said in an editorial in 'Saamana'.

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The Shiv Sena also called on Prime Minister Modi to intervene in the situation, saying that his 'involvement' could boost his popularity.

"The issue of Ram Mandir now cannot be delayed. We would have to resolve it as soon as possible. The blood that has been shed over the issue should not be disrespected," the editorial added.

Meanwhile, the Congress has accused the RSS of creating communal tension in the nation on the Ram temple issue, adding that the construction of the temple should be done with the consent of all the political parties.

"The very same RSS and the people carrying this agenda are creating communal tensions by which no governments are able to proceed with this idea. So, the communal tension is to be reduced and communal harmony is to be established. Anything which is done, should be with the concern of all the parties. It cannot be to create more enmity or hatred. It should be for peace and unity," Congress leader P.C. Chacko told ANI.

RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat had earlier in Kolkata expressed hope that a Ram temple would be constructed in his lifetime.

"India is rich in religion and culture. Ram is our ideal whom some regard as god and some as a great man ... Society should rise taking inspiration from Ram and Sharad Kothari and prepare for building a grand Ram temple like Somnath," the RSS chief said in his tweet.