Ramayana museum project a 'lollypop', says Katiyar

BJP's parliament member Vinay Katiyar on Tuesday dubbed the proposed government project to build a Ramayana Museum at Ayodhya as a "lollypop", and said instead, people want "a Ram temple".

"This museum is nothing but a lollypop and people don't need this. People want a Ram temple at Ram's Janmbhoomi and nothing short of that will suffice," Katiyar told IANS.

"Where is the land for this museum? Moreover, the model election code of conduct will come into force in two months, so how will they build it," asked Katiyar, a member of the Rajya Sabha.

His remarks came on a day Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma visited Ayodhya to inspect the proposed site for setting up the museum.

"On one hand there is proposal of this museum, and on the other, (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister) Akhilesh Yadav has declared constructing Ramleela Theme Park. But, where is the land? People want Ram Mandir...nothing else."

"If it needs to be done through a bill in parliament, so be it. We have the majority. Building the Ram temple is in our party manifesto. We should not forget it," Katiyar said.

He also called for developing infrastructure, including roads, toilets and street lighting, in Ayodhya.

The opposition has trained guns at the Bharatiya Janata Party for "raking up the Ram Mandir" issue ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

--IANS

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