Even as the senior leadership in the saffron party has made it clear time and again that Ram Temple is hardly the primary issue for the BJP as the government’s main focus is development, the recent statement by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has been seen by many as a step in the direction of ‘course correction’ after the Bihar debacle.
Party insiders say that Right wing organisations like the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Sangh Parivar have raised the issue of Ram Temple construction time and again, but a statement on the issue by the RSS chief days after the Bihar poll results hold significance.
“Senior leaders have called for a review of the party’s dismal performance in Bihar and many of them have also said that a course correction is needed as assembly polls in UP are not far away. Now, the push for the construction of Ram Temple from the RSS shows that party cannot ignore this for long,” said a party functionary.
On Sunday, Bhagwat recalled that Singhal wanted two things to be accomplished – construction of Ram temple at the Ram Janambhoomi and the propagation of Vedas. The same should be accomplished by working sincerely towards achieving those, he said.
“Ashokji during a meeting had shared his two resolves – of building the Ram temple at Ram Janmabhoomi and spreading the Vedic wisdom to the world. If we have to accomplish the resolve of Ashokji, we have to take a pledge today to make his resolve ours. We have to make serious attempts to accomplish the Ram temple and that will be a true tribute to him. Ashokji’s spirit will guide us in this task. We have to keep moving and working on the path shown by Ashokji and in the coming few years, we hope to work towards accomplishing his dream of Ram temple,” he said.
Many party leaders came out with a different view on this. “Ram temple and uniform civil code remain the core issues and are also a part of party’s manifesto. But, party chief has made this clear that this can’t be done unless party gets a majority in both the Houses,” a party leader said, adding that the party would not do anything at the cost of development.
Even on Sunday, party chief Amit Shah said that Ashok Singhal was the architect as well as the leader of the biggest mass movement in India after the Independence.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rajiv Shukla on Monday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was fooling people and Lord Ram by not taking the construction of Ram Mandir issue forward.
“The BJP is fooling the people in the name of Ram Mandir. One person says yes and then another says no. Whenever they come to power they do not do anything. They are fooling even Lord Ram,” Shukla said on Monday reacting to Bhagwat’s remark.
Reviving the key agenda
-> The promise of Ram Temple construction was part of party’s manifesto ahead of 2014 Lok Sabha polls. However, it found place on one of the last pages of the manifesto as development was the main agenda.
-> Even as the Centre’s main focus is development, but the statement by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has been seen by many as a step in the direction of ‘course correction’ after the Bihar debacle.
-> Many in the party believe that the issue of construction of Ram Temple remains relevant given the fact that UP assembly polls are scheduled in 2017.
-> Some party leaders believe that the BJP can’t ignore the issue of construction of Ram Temple for long as the party had registered remarkable victory following Rathyatra led by LK Advani in 1989.