Ram Mandir not in BJP’s priority list, says Naqvi; refuted by his own party

New Delhi, 06 Jun 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: Union Minority Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi was on Tuesday found himself sidelined in his own party when a number of his colleagues and Hindutva leaders refuted his statement that Ram Temple is not in the priority list of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Stating that he cannot believe Naqvi could make such a statement, senior BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy said if anyone in the party opposes Ram Mandir, there will be resistance from within the party.

"Our party will never compromise on Ram Mandir. I don't think Naqvi can make such a statement. He must have meant something else. I can't believe that Naqvi can use such language. If someone opposes Ram Mandir, there will be resistance from the party”, news agency ANI quoted Swamy as saying.

Swamy was responding to Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi who had said that the BJP's objective to win the 2019 elections will be based only on development, while adding that there will be no space for Hindutva and temple issues.

Contradicting Naqvi's statement, BJP leader Vinay Katiyar said, "The court is taking a long time in taking a decision on the issue of Ram Mandir and since the BJP is in power, priests and religious leaders are also expecting progress in the matter of the Ram Mandir, and since quick decision is not possible, they might have been upset."

"The BJP’s victory in 2019 is not possible only on 'Vikas' or development. Unless the decision on Ram Mandir is taken, nothing can be said”, he said.

Echoing similar lines, RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha said, "The Hindu society, the Saints, everyone wants Ram Mandir to be constructed on the birthplace of Lord Ram. This is not an electoral matter, this is a cultural issue. We are not going to compromise on the issue of Ram Mandir."