Use 'Parliament alternative' for Ram temple construction: UP minister

Claiming there is "no opposition" to the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya now, a senior minister in the Yogi Adityanath government on Thursday advocated achieving the aim through Parliament.

"Over 500 years ago, foreign invaders came to India and tried to ruin our cultural heritage. There should be a Ram temple in Ayodhya where Ramlala's idol is situated as it is a matter of faith of crores of Hindus. A lot of politics has been done over the issue," Uttar Pradesh government spokesperson and energy minister Shrikant Sharma told PTI.

"Why should there be a delay in construction of the temple?" he asked.

"The matter has already stretched for a long period. Now no politics should be done over it and the Parliament alternative should be seriously considered," he said.

Sharma appeared to be suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government should bring about a legislation for construction of the Ram temple.

His comments came after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat earlier on Thursday said the government should clear the path for the construction of the "grand temple through an appropriate and requisite law