Take Ram temple issue 'seriously' after Bhagwat comments: Sena to Modi govt

Two days after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pitched for early construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Shiv Sena Friday acknowledged his commitment, but questioned that of the "politicians" towards the cause.

Attacking BJP chief Amit Shah, the Shiv Sena said he speaks with confidence about the Bharatiya Janata Party ruling the country for 50 years, but "refrains" from commenting on the issues of scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution, that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and the Ram temple.

The BJP's carping ally, in the editorial of its mouthpiece 'Saamana', asked the Narendra Modi government to take "seriously" the issue of constructing Ram temple in Ayodhya after Bhagwat's comments.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party, however, opined that the temple issue has been reduced only to a poll promise and therefore, has become a topic for ridiculing Hindutva.

Bhagwat, speaking at an event of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Wednesday in New Delhi, pitched for early construction of Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya.

"Ram Mandir should be built at the earliest," he had said.

"The position taken by the RSS chief on the issue of the (Ram) temple is of commitment. But has there left even an iota of that commitment in the inner hues of (among) politicians?" the Shiv Sena asked.

"Shah speaks with a lot of confidence about the BJP ruling the country for 50 years. But refrains from commenting on repealing Article 370 or committing deadline for construction of the Ram temple.

"Are the rising petrol and diesel prices and beheading of soldiers the future of India?" the Marathi daily asked.

Speaking at the event, Bhagwat had also talked about the RSS being firm on scrapping of Article 370.

Referring to that, the Shiv Sena asked why did then the BJP form government in Jammu and Kashmir along with the Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP, which is opposed to the idea of scrapping the Article.

"Mehbooba would say there would be riots if that Article was to be scrapped. So, was it right for (the BJP) to get married to her (party PDP) for power?