UP has govt of babas, still could do nothing for Ram temple: Hardik

Taking a dig at the BJP, Gujarat Patidar leader Hardik Patel said on Thursday even though Uttar Pradesh has a "government of babas (monks)", Ram temple is yet to be built in Ayodhya.

During his visit to the state capital in connection with a programme of youth and farmers slated for December, Patel made light of the BJP's attacks on the Congress and accused the saffron party of "doing nothing" for the nation while in power.

"UP has a government of babas... the chief minister is the 'peethadheshwar' of Gorakhpur and he needs to serve the God there... he is not able to do much. It is almost over 10 years that the BJP has been in power (at the Centre) together with Atal Bihar Vajpayees' six years. Now in the state too (the party is in power). They still could do nothing for the Ram temple," he told PTI.

"They (BJP leaders) ask what has been done in 70 years. It is good that the Congress established schools and colleges. Had they installed statues where would the IITs be? I think all the youth of India would have gone to Australia and the US," Patel said.

He, however, said, "This does not mean that I want to help the Congress in any way. But the school where I studied was set up by the Congress and it should be praised for that."