'Ram mandir will be constructed', Mohan Bhagwat stirs Ayodhya issue

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stirred the topic of Ram temple in Ayodhya, days after BJP's sweeping victory in elections, even as the matter remains sub judice.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat

New Delhi: Days after the BJP-led NDA returned to power with a massive majority in the Lok Sabha elections, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stirred the topic of Ram temple in Ayodhya, even as the matter remains sub judice. At an event in Rajasthan's Udaipur, while addressing the audience, Bhagwat said that the Ram temple will be constructed. He said Lord Ram’s work is to be done and will surely be done and everybody will have to come together to complete the task. “Ram ka kaam karna hain aur wo hokar rahega. Sabko mil kar karna hai Ram ka Kaam,” he said. Bhagwat’s statement comes soon after the elections, even as the matter remains sub judice. Throughout the campaigning phase, BJP leaders by and large refrained from the mention of Ram temple in political rallies.  This is the first time for the BJP that the issue has remained just a mention in the manifesto and has no place in any political rally. The construction of a Ram temple at the same spot in Ayodhya was also a major poll plank of the BJP during the 2014 general elections. On May 10, the Supreme Court extended time till Aug 15 to complete the mediation process in the politically sensitive case, as it stated that the panel of mediators is "optimistic" about an amicable solution. In its March 8 order, the top court had asked the panel of mediators to hold in-camera proceedings and complete them within eight weeks. The Constitution bench had said that it does not find any "legal impediment" to make a reference to mediation for a possible settlement of the dispute. The top court had fixed the seat for mediation process in Faizabad of Uttar Pradesh, around 7 km from Ayodhya, and said adequate arrangements including the venue of the mediation, place of stay of the mediators, their security, travel should be forthwith arranged by state government so that proceedings could commence immediately. The bench was told earlier by Hindu bodies, except for Nirmohi Akhara, and the Uttar Pradesh government that they oppose the court's suggestion for mediation. The Muslim bodies had supported the proposal. Watch video: