Ravi Shankar Prasad favours consensus on Ram temple issue

Says construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is 'mandatory' for revival of our culture

Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad today advocated building consensus in the society to resolve the Ram temple issue, a day after Subramanian Swamy went ahead with a seminar in Delhi university on the matter and asserted that nothing will be done forcibly or against the law.

"It is part of our manifesto. The matter is in Supreme Court. Let's await its decision," the Communications and IT minister told reporters here.

"There has to be a consensus in the society and the matter can be resolved through dialogue," the minister said.

Swamy held a seminar in DU yesterday on the issue.

"Construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is 'mandatory' for revival of our culture. We have started and we will not give up until it is made but nothing will be done forcibly and against the law. We have full faith that we will win in the court," he said in his inaugural address at the two-day seminar.

Claiming that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had promised him of support for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Swamy appealed to Congress to come forward and support the cause.

RSS' Muslim outreach wing Muslim Rashtriya Manch has also said that Ram temple will come up in Ayodhya once members of all communities are taken into confidence on the matter.

Describing Lord Rama as "symbol of Indian-ness", the Manch, patronised by senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, said it is making efforts to make Muslims aware of the "truth" that God is at the centre of faith for Hindus, while Mughal Emperor Babur does not claim similar space for them.