Karnataka Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan Monday said Muslims were not against Ram temple at Ayodhya but pitched for construction of both Mandir and Masjid.
Khan, who is from the Congress in the party's coalition government with the Janata Dal-Secular, hit out at the BJP for raking up the issue for political reasons, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
"Muslims are not against construction of Ram Mandir, we want Ram Mandir, also Babri Masjid," Khan said.
"What we want is peace. Muslims have never opposed Ram Mandir. We have two wishes- one side we want Masjid, one side we want Ram Mandir."
Khan's statement comes days after another Congress MLA and former minister Roshan Baig asked, "If Ram Mandir is not constructed in India, will it be built in Pakistan" and said Muslims respected the sentiments of "Hindu brothers."