After minor row, BJP denies Amit Shah promised Ram Temple before 2019 polls
After minor row, BJP denies Amit Shah promised Ram Temple before 2019 polls
M.U.H
15/07/2018157
A day after Amit Shah's 'reported statement' that construction work for Ram Temple at Ayodhya will begin before 2019 general elections, the saffron party on Saturday denied BJP chief making any such statement and maintained that "no such matter was on agenda".
"Yesterday in Telangana, BJP President Amit Shah did not make any statement on the issue of Ram mandir as being claimed in certain sections of the media. No such matter was even on the agenda," ran a missive from BJP's official Twitter handle.
The reported statement attributed to Mr Shah - said to have been made at a meeting of party leaders in Hyderabad on Friday - sparked off a row with Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) stating that it was better if the Ayodhya judgment came after the 2019 general elections as it would influence the election outcome.
"Amit Shah in Hyderabad says Mandir will be built before Parliament elections, question is
whether Shah going to write the judgment when the Supreme Court is deciding the title dispute and whether Masjid is essential feature of Islam," Mr Owaisi tweeted during the day.
He wrote: "It is better if the Judgment is given after Parliament Elections (to ensure) free
and fair elections".
Mr Shah on Friday held a meeting of party leaders in Hyderabad after which BJP National Executive member P Sekharjee briefed the media.
"Considering the developments, I believe that construction of Ram temple will begin before the coming general elections," Mr Sekharjee quoted Mr Shah as saying.
The Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi dispute is in the Supreme Court since 2010-11 after the judgement from the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court in September 2010.