In a rare gesture, BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday called upon Muslims to be generous towards the sentiments of Hindus and facilitate the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya “to herald a new era of amity” in the country. Gadkari after formally taking over as the party president at a two-day national council meeting here said in his maiden address that he did not see a satisfactory solution to the issue through courts. He was quick to add that Muslims could construct a mosque at an alternative site.
Gadkari, who had shied away from this topic ever since his elevation to BJP president’s post in December, reiterated the party’s commitment and resolve to build the Ram temple in Ayodhya. “There was a big national movement for this and a litigation is also pending, which may not offer a perfect solution because one party would lose and the other may win,” he said.
Gadkari’s call to the Muslims is crucial as he has already announced his resolve to increase BJP vote share at least by 10 per cent by breaking new grounds and taking new initiatives. He has also exhorted party members to become active in reaching out to various sections, including dalits, Muslims, SCs & STs, and other backward classes. He made a beginning by having dinner with a BJP dalit corporator in Indore on Monday.
At the same time, Gadkari slammed the Congress and Communists for their move to introduce religion-based reservations in education and employment for Muslims. He said it was purely to pursue votebank politics.