Whenever elections come in Uttar Pradesh, invariably BJP leaders talk about Ram Janmabhoomi issue and promise that they would build temple. This happened many decades and things didnot change except for increase in tempers in communally sensitive holy town of Ayodhya.
Now BJP despite all PM Modi's talk of development, started talking about Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Speaking to scribes Mahants and Sadhus exposed BJP on Ayodhya. Mahant Suresh Das, head of the Digambar akhara, whose predecessor Ramchandra Das Paramhans was one of the spearheads of the temple movement speaking to scribes says 'No government in Lucknow can clear the way for the temple at `Ram janmabhoomi'
Exposing politics behind it he says “Vote ke liye yeh neta jhoot bolte hain (these politicians lie for the sake of lie for the sake of votes),“ and adds “During the 2014 elections, they said the temple will be built after they have majority in the Lok Sabha. Now, they say they need majority in Rajya Sabha.“
Suresh Das of VHP says “The temple movement hasn't ended, it has merely been sus pended till 2018 to give time to the PM to clear the path,“. Mahant Gyan Das, head priest at Ayodhya's famous Hanumangarhi temple, also home to the town's largest Nirvani akhara says “Before every election, we get a Ram mandir in Ayodhya! Ram has become BJP's polling agent,“
He added “Modiji has guts, we respect him. If he wants he can call a joint session of Parliament to pass a law on the temple. But it must happen with harmony and the agreement of all. We want a temple smeared in milk, not blood,“
Mahant Ram Das, head of the Nirmohi akhara which is one of the litigants in the title suit over the disputed Babri mosque-Ram janambhoomi land says “The matter is in Supreme Court and let it decide it. The issue shouldn't be politicised.Anyway, the BJP has been raising it since 1989 and even rode to power on its back. Have they been able to build a temple?“
He points that PM Modi didnot even visit Ayodhya and VHP is not having any su;pport. Mahant Bhavnath Dasfrom Nirvani Akhara is canvassing for SP and Gyan Das for Akhilesh Yadav. Mahant Ram Dasa after questioning why Patanjali opened new unit in Chitrakoot and not in Ayodhya then explains saying “That's because no one wants to invest here due to uncertainty and fear.“
Ram Das, the head of the Nirmohi akhara -one of the litigants in the mosque-temple land dispute adds “Ayodhya has paid a heavy price.No factories have come here and no infrastructure built during these years. The railway track to Ayodhya is still a single line. Even roads haven't been widened,“
