BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra today said that Ram Mandir will surely be constructed at the disputed site in Ayodhya.
Speaking at India TV Samvaad Conclave, organised in Lucknow to assess the development works done by the one-year old Yogi Adityanath government, Patra exuded confidence that the Supreme Court verdict will come in the favour of Hindus.
“I am sure that the Ram Mandir will be constructed…,” he said, adding that “Lord Ram is not of only Hindus, Ram belongs to all”.
To this, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, who was another speaker on the panel, questioned Patra that on what basis he can say that the temple will be constructed when the matter is pending before the Supreme Court.
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“The dispute is still with the Supreme Court and I wonder how come the BJP is so sure that the Ram Mandir will be constructed in 2019. Don't know what is the number game for 2019,” he said.
He claimed that the issue is being politicised and reiterated that the matter be posted for hearing after 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
“Political parties are aware that the Ram Mandir will be constructed, it is not about the TV debates,” Patra replied quickly. He also slammed Owaisi and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal for telling the Supreme Court to begin hearing in the matter after 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
"Temple will surely be constructed. Owaisi also knows that temple will be constructed," he said.
“We have full faith in the procedures and the Supreme Court. I want to remind Owaisiji that he had opposed the judgement of Supreme Court on triple talaq,” Patra added.
Deepak Singh of Congress, the third speaker on panel jumped into the debate, accusing the BJP of playing politics of the issue.
“We have been listening about the construction of Ram Mandir since childhood. The matter is in the court and should wait," he said.
“If the BJP is so sure about the construction of Ram Mandir, they should clearly state when will it be constructed,” Singh said.
To this, Patra said that Singh should not talk about the failure of other parties. He also slams the grand old party over Sonia Gandhi's past remark in which she had questioned: "who is Ram?"
“Being a leader of the Congress party, Deepak Singh should not talk about the failure of other parties. Congress party is on the verge of disappearance from the country and so Deepak Singh should not talk about that,” he said.
Owaisi further questioned the BJP over inducting senior SP leader Naresh Agrawal who he said had insulted Lord Ram. "A person who insulted Ram has joined BJP and the party has welcomed him."
“This country can't be run in the name of religious belief,” Owaisi said, prompting a fiery response from Patra: “It is wrong to say this country can't be run on religious faith. India will always run on religious faith, as opposite to what Owaisiji says. Ram has always been our faith and so Ram Mandir will be constructed on the disputed land in Ayodhya.”
“The BJP is indulging in caste politics. The BJP can go to any extent to grab power. Only votes matters for them. BJP's faith in Ram and Ram Mandir is matter of show-offs,” Deepak opined.
When Owaisi asked Patra to answer him when Lord Ram was born, in tretayug or satyug?, Patra said: “No one can dare to question me when Ram was born, no one can dare to make fun. Ram is born in every yug (era). Ram is in every particle of land.”
“It is a matter of faith and we are confident (ram Mandir will come up in Ayodhya). This country is secular because there are 100 crore Hindus living here,” Patra said.
“Hindus were never communal and still they are not communal. Their DNA is not communal. But it doesn't mean that they be suppressed,” Patra added.
Patra also chose to blame Owaisi for the backwardness of Muslims. He said according to him (Owaisi), banking system is anti-islamic. “You are allowing ATMs to be installed in your region.”
Patra reminded Owaisi that CJI had suggested for an out of court settlement on Ram Mandir issue. “The CJI had noted that this matter is a very sensitive issue. This is not a fight for just 1-acre of land, that 1-acre of land is the Universe for Hindus. Mandir will surely be constructed.”
“It is Lord Ram, who is on the first page of the Constitution,” Patra said.
Watch video: Deepak Singh, Sambit Patra and Asaduddin Owaisi at India TV Samvaad Conclave
