RSS chief pitches for law to enable Ram temple construction

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat Thursday demanded a law to enable construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was necessary for "self-esteem" and to usher in an "atmosphere of goodwill and oneness".

In his customary Dussehra address to the Sangh cadres at the RSS headquarters here, he also referred to the ongoing Sabrimala row, saying the Supreme Court verdict has not taken into consideration the nature and premise of the tradition and it has led to "divisiveness" in the society.

During the 80-minute speech, Bhagwat spoke on various other issues like "urban maoism" and the need to strengthen the country's borders.

Nobel Prize winner and social activist Kailash Satyarthi was the chief guest on the occasion.

The RSS chief said the sangh has been associated with sentiments of crores of people in the efforts for construction of a magnificent Ram temple at the birthplace of Lord Rama, who is the personification of life energy of the nation and icon of upholding the dharma.

"The construction of the temple is necessary from the self-esteem point of view, it will also pave the way for an atmosphere of goodwill and oneness in the country," he said.

"The 'janmabhoomi' (birth place) is yet to be allocated for the construction of the temple although all kinds of evidence have affirmed that there was a temple at that place (in Ayodhya)," Bhagwat said.

He said "politics is delaying the construction of Ram Mandir" and that it is in "nobody's interest to test the patience of the society without any reason."
On the Sabarimala row, he said, "questions such as why only the Hindu society experiences such repeated and brazen onslaughts on its symbols of faith, obviously arise in the public's mind and lead to unrest."
He added, "The situation arising out of the recent (Supreme Court) verdict on Sabarimala temple shows a similar predicament. The nature and premise of the tradition that has been accepted by society and continuously followed for years together were not taken into consideration."