Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya not contentious issue: Heptulla

Senior BJP leader Najma Heptulla Sunday said the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, part of the BJP's core agenda, was "not a contentious issue" and it could be done as per the Allahabad High Court's judgment.

"Constructing a Ram temple in Ayodhya is not a contentious issue. The (Allahabad) High Court judgment divided the land between Hindus and Muslims. Naturally, anyone who wants to construct a temple or a mosque there is free to do so," Heptulla told IANS.

A three-judge bench of the Allahabad High Court ruled in 2010 that the disputed land should be divided into three parts -- with one part going to the Sunni Waqf Board, second part to the Nirmohi Akhara and the third to the party for "Ram Lalla."

Heptulla added that the other issues that make up the core agenda of the BJP - removal of Article 370 giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir and implementation of a Uniform Civil Code in the country - should not be looked at in a "negative manner".

"The BJP has been given a positive mandate to improve the conditions existing in this country. If development takes place, everyone would benefit," she said.