Building further pressure on the government, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Friday hinted at a fresh "mass agitation" akin to 1992 for constructing a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
"We are confident that the Ram Mandir will be built soon. We have already waited too long for it and cannot wait indefinitely. If needed, we shall launch a 'jan andolan' (mass agitation) for the temple," declared RSS General Secretary (Sarakaryavyah) Suresh 'Bhaiyyaji' Joshi.
He responded to mediapersons when questioned what would be the RSS stance if the issue was prolonged in the court or a law could not be enacted soon.
Joshi also urged the courts to take up sensitive cases like the Ram temple on priority and expressed confidence that all legal hurdles would be removed soon in this regard.
He reiterated the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's demand of October 18 that the government should consider enacting a law or promulgating an ordinance to pave the way for constructing the temple.
Pointing out that the Supreme Court has to give its ruling on the title suit, he said the RSS was expected "some good news before Diwali", but rued that the apex court pushed the matter further till early 2019.
"The Supreme Court has hurt the feelings of Hindus by observing that it was not a matter of priority and deferring the case hearing to January. This is a matter of deep anguis," Joshi said.
Highlighting the delays of nearly six-seven years, he referred to the Supreme Court ruling of 1994, the Allahabad High Court verdict in 2010, the appeal before the apex court in 2011 and the findings of Archaeologial Survey of India (ASI).
However, he made it clear that on the promulgation of an ordinance or enacting a law, "that is something the government only can decide".
Touching on the Sabarimala temple controversy, Joshi said that while the RSS was in favour of entry of women in all temples, the customs and traditions of individual temples must be respected.
"We do not support discrimination of women in places of worship. But some temples have restrictions and rules which need to be honoured. The society has beliefs and views of all stakeholders must be considered. Peoples' faith is supreme," Joshi said.
The RSS leader's remarks came at the end of a three-day RSS Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal conclave held near Uttan Beach of Bhayander town, and shortly after Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah called on the RSS brass including Bhagwat.
Reacting sharply to Joshi's statements, Antar Rashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP) founder-president Pravin Togadia said it implies that the RSS-associated party (BJP) was now ruling the nation but the RSS was talking of a "1992-style agitation" as if it (BJP) was still in the opposition.
"The RSS remembers Ram when its government has failed miserably on all fronts in past four-and-half years. All true Hindus who sacrificed their lives for the organization kept demanding for a law on Ram temple but were humiliated," Togadia said in a statement from Ahmedabad.
--IANS
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