Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Tuesday said that constructing a Ram temple in Ayodhya would fulfil the aspirations of the devotees, PTI reported.
“Everyday he [Lord Ram] is worshipped as per traditions and rituals,” Maurya told the news agency in an interview. “But, he is being worshipped under a taat [tent]. Every Rama bhakt wants that Lord Rama should not live under a taat. Rather he should live in thaat [luxury].” Hence a grand Ram temple must be built, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader reasoned.
He said he was confident that the Supreme Court, which will begin hearing 13 petitions challenging the Allahabad High Court’s verdict on the matter from December 5, would rule in favour of those seeking to build the temple. The High Court had ruled the land should be divided equally among the three parties in the case.
“A grand Ram temple will be built using stones on which carvings have been made by the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, and devotees will get an opportunity to offer prayers,” Maurya said.
Asked about Art of Living Foundation head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s attempts to help the parties involved in the dispute reach an out-of-court settlement, the deputy chief minister said the Uttar Pradesh government was not opposed to any such an initiative. “Whether he is a party in the case or whether he could bring an agreement among parties…Those who have started the initiative must be having a road map.”
On Sunday, Union minister Giriraj Singh had told a congregation of Hindu saints, mutt heads and leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad that Muslims should help build the temple in Ayodhya as they are the descendants of Ram and not of Mughal emperor Babur. At the same event, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat had said that victory was at hand and no structure other than a Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya.
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