Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday suggested any decision on an ordinance on Ram temple in Ayodhya can happen only after the completion of the judicial process but asserted that the government was ready to make all efforts to fulfil its responsibility.
Modi’s comments came amidst heightened demands by Hindutava organisations, including the RSS, for an ordinance to allow the temple construction.
“Let the judicial process take its own course. Don’t weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever be our responsibility as government, we are ready to make all efforts,” the Prime Minister said during an interview, broadcast by several TV channels.
Welcoming Modi’s remarks as a “positive” step towards the construction of the Ram temple, the RSS said it was in line with a resolution passed by the BJP in 1989 in Palampur in which the Saffron party had committed to the construction either through mutual consultation or an enabling legislation.
However, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut reacted sharply, wondering “whether law is bigger than lord Ram.”
Drawing a parallel with the triple talaq case, Modi said an ordinance came only after the Supreme Court order. He also accused the Congress of delaying the judicial process in the Ram temple case through its lawyers. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case on January 4.
Modi also answered a wide range of issues, including on opposition’s efforts to form a grand alliance to take on the BJP in 2019 elections, rumblings within the NDA, the ‘Modi magic’, Urjit Patel’s resignation as RBI governor, demonetisation, mob lynching and BJP’s defeat in three Hindi heartland states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.
Amidst criticism that the surgical strike failed to check Pakistan’s support for trouble the Prime Minister asserted that it would be a “big mistake” to think that Pakistan will mend its ways after just “one war”.
“Pakistan will never improve on the basis of one war.That nation will still take some time to improve. All PMs of India, across all parties never opposed dialogue with Pakistan,” he said.
“But, can we hear anything in the midst of bombs?Today, terror supporting Pakistan is isolated,” Modi said.