VHP says Supreme Court avoided ‘performance of duty’

Hours after the Supreme Court declined an early hearing of Ayodhya land dispute cases and fixed its schedule in January, the Sangh Parivar affiliates joined ranks to pitch for an “ordinance or legislation” in the winter session to clear the hurdles in the construction of the Ram Temple.

The VHP voiced anguish over the Supreme Court having “avoided performance of its duty” in expeditiously hearing the matter pending before it since 2011 while the RSS insisted that it has been proven that there was a temple at the site, which was demolished.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was tightlipped on any move to bring an ordinance or legislation and merely said a lot of people want the case to be heard quickly.

Hardliner Union Minster Giriraj Singh was vocal as usual. “The patience of Hindus is running out. I fear what will be the consequence if they lose their patience,” he said.

VHP’s international working president Alok Kumar announced that his organisation will “build pressure” on even non-NDA MPAs so that they do not oppose such a legislation and expressed hope that the BJP will fulfil its commitment to constructing the Ram Temple in the next six months of its remaining tenure.

“I am not attaching any motive to the order of the Supreme Court today. But I am disappointed with it. But the fact that the hearing into the matter that came before it in 2011 has not commenced so far does show that the Supreme Court has avoided performance of duty in hearing this matter. The court has again postponed the hearing and our strong belief now says it is not appropriate to keep waiting eternally,” Kumar said.

The VHP will intensify its campaign in the coming weeks and has called a two-day ‘Dharam Sansad’, a meeting of seers, on January 31 and February 1 next year to discuss the Ram Temple issue on the sidelines of the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad. On November 15, the VHP will organise public meetings in all Lok Sabha constituencies and pass a resolution asking MPs to support the legislation on Ram Temple.

Holding that the Supreme Court should take an early decision on Ram Janmabhoomi, RSS chief spokesperson Arun Kumar said in a statement, “A Ram Temple should be constructed early… the Supreme Court should take an early decision and if there is any difficulty, the government should make a law to remove hurdles in the construction of the temple to grant land at the Ram Janmabhoomi site”.

There is a feeling among the VHP and the RSS that with the Supreme Court making it clear that an early hearing is not happening in the case, the BJP may have to press for the legislation route to appear credible about its promise on Ram Temple.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had said in the first week of October that even the Opposition parties cannot oppose Ram Temple.

Before the SC order came on Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the Supreme Court should pronounce judgement on the Ram Mandir case like it did on the Sabarimala issue.

Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Prasad Maurya, said the adjournment of hearing doesn’t send a good message.

BJP’s estranged ally Shiv Sena stressed that Ram Temple is an issue of faith and demanded that the government come out with an ordinance soon.