In the light of growing demand for construction of Ram Mandir without further delay, BJP leader and Union Minister Uma Bharti said on Sunday that while Hindus were the “most tolerant” people in the world, the matter of constructing a mosque on the periphery of the Ram Mandir could make them “intolerant.”
Bharti told PTI in an interview, “Hindus are the most tolerant community in the world. I will appeal to all politicians: please don’t make Hindus intolerant by talking about building a mosque on the outer periphery of the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.”
“When there could not be a temple in the holy town of Medina or a mosque in the Vatican City, it would be unfair to talk about a mosque in Ayodhya,” she added.
Furthermore, she also invited Congress president Rahul Gandhi to lay the foundation stone of the temple in Ayodhya with her, saying he could “atone for the sins” of his party which always created “hurdles” in building the temple in Ayodhya.
“We need the support of all political parties on this issue. I invite all leaders including, Rahul Gandhiji, come let’s lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple with me,” Bharti said.
She also reminded that the Ayodhya issue is a land dispute and not a dispute of faith, mentioning that the land dispute can be resolved outside court.
According to Bharti, Congress was trying to divide the country on the basis of faith.
Bharti, who had participated in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement of the 1990s, said she was fully committed to the construction of Ram temple. “If they tell me that Ram Mandir will be built only over my dead body, then so be it,” she said.
She also stressed on receiving support from Mulayam Singh, Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati and the Left parties on this issue as it is of national interest.
“But they aren’t letting the matter get resolved,” she slammed. “The Congress will have to quit the habit of dividing the country in the name of religion,” Bharti said, reiterating that all political parties should unite on this issue.
Several other BJP leaders have also stated their plans regarding the matter, BJP MP Rakesh Sinha plans to bring a legislation for construction of Ram Mandir, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also recently affirmed that he plans to build a huge statue of Ram in Ayodhya.