We stand 'firmly' by Ram temple in Ayodhya; will not make it poll issue: UP BJP chief

Ahead of the November 25 Dharam Sabha scheduled to be held in Ayodhya, the BJP Wednesday claimed it is the only political party in the country, which has "passed a political resolution" for building a Ram temple and stands by it "firmly".

At the same time, UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey maintained that the party will not make Ram temple an election issue in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

"There is no question of the BJP being behind the scene as far as November 25 Dharam Sabha is concerned, as the BJP is serving the people in the capacity of a ruling party. And, the BJP is the only political party in the country, which in its 1989 national executive meeting in Palampur (Himachal Pradesh) passed a political resolution supporting construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya," UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey told PTI.

"The BJP stands firmly by the resolution,"he said in an interview.

"For the BJP, it (Ram temple) is a matter of faith and devotion. The BJP is a strong advocate of construction of Ram temple as per the law. As far as the Dharam Sabha is concerned, the saffron party has respect for the sants and seer community," he said.

On rival political parties accusing the BJP of not declaring the date for construction of Ram temple and misleading the people, Pandey said, "Those political parties who talk such things, are actually victims of false virtue. The country had seen how those parties had opposed the OBC Bill and the bill banning instant triple talaq in Parliament. In fact, they are the ones who have shown dual face."
On whether Ram temple will be an issue in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections (for the party), the UP BJP chief said, "In 2019, our party will not make Ram temple an election issue. Even if our 1991 election manifesto is seen, we had contested the elections on the issue of public welfare and development. Construction of Ram temple is a matter of faith and devotion."