Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) must not forget that it formed the government on the issue of Ram temple.
Raut's comments come a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that any decision on an ordinance for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya can be considered only after the judicial process gets over.
"We don't need Prime Minister to tell us that matter is in court. If that's what we wanted, what was the need for the movement? Thousands of Kar Sevaks were martyred. In Mumbai, there were bomb blasts, riots. It was genocide on Ram temple's name, who is responsible? You (BJP) formed the government on this issue. Don't forget that," Raut told ANI.
In an interview to ANI, Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday had also suggested that the judicial process was being slowed down because Congress lawyers were creating "obstacles" in the Supreme Court.
"We have said in our BJP manifesto that a solution would be found to this issue under the ambit of the Constitution," the Prime Minister said about the Ram temple matter when asked whether the Ram Mandir issue had been relegated as merely an emotive issue for the BJP.
Asked whether the Central government could consider issuing an Ordinance on Ram temple, the Prime Minister pointed out that the matter is before the Supreme Court and possibly in the final stages.
"Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever will be our responsibility as the government, we are ready to make all efforts," the Prime Minister added.
The matter is slated to be heard by the Supreme Court on January 4. The petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court for day-to-day hearing in the case.