Opposition slams, Hindutva bodies support UP Gov. Ram Naik’s remark on Ram Temple

New Delhi: Even as the row over alleged forced re-conversions of Muslims in to Hinduism continues to ignite passions, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik today stirred another controversy by saying that a ‘Ram temple’ in Ayodhya should be built at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid as per the “wishes of the people of India”.

It is notable that Hindutva forces had demolished ‘Babri Masjid’ on 6 December 1992 to replace it was a Ram Temple.

Whereas the opposition slammed UP governor’s statement, Hindutva forces including India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and the Shiv Sena have backed Ram Naik’s statement mainlining that there was nothing wrong in his remark.

BJP leader Vijay Bahadur claimed that everybody wants to get the Ram temple constructed at his (Hindu lord Ram) ‘birth place’ and having this wish is not wrong.

Shiv Sena also echoed Ram Naik’s statement and extended its full support to the Governor.

RSS leader Sanjay Raut said there is nothing wrong in his statement. Naik was active during the Ram Mandir movement. Now we have chance to build a Ram temple. He went on to say that Ram Temple was a “national temple”.

Opposition parties including the Congress, Janata Dal United, Nationalist Congress Party, Samajwadi Party among others strongly criticised Naik’s comment.

“This is an objectionable issue to demand the construction of Ram Temple by the person sitting on the position of governor,” NCP leader Tariq Anwar said.

The JDU even went ahead and demanded the Governor’s resignation over the matter. “We will request the President of India to remove the Governor of Uttar Pradesh as he has violated the Constitution,” JDU leader KC Tyagi said.

“Even if it is his personal comment then he should not make such comments because he is not a RSS member or a BJP member but governor of UP,” Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agrawal said.

Naik during a convocation programme of Awadh University at Faizabad had said, “Ram Mandir should be built as soon as possible. That is the wish of the Indian citizens and the wish should be fulfilled.”