LJP against ordinance on Ram Temple, says Paswan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 3

It is election time and NDA allies are busy underscoring political points by taking a stance contrary to the BJP. A day after the Opposition received some unexpected support from the BJP’s temperamental ally Shiv Sena on its demand for a JPC on the contentious Rafale deal and Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (U) voiced opposition to the Triple Talaq Bill, LJP supremo Ram Vilas Paswan today opposed an ordinance on the Ram Temple issue.

Asserting that the Supreme Court’s decision on the issue should be final, Paswan also supported the court’s judgment allowing women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple, saying that the LJP was against any gender discrimination, which goes against the BJP’s stated stance on the issue.

Paswan said whatever judgment the Supreme Court would give on the Ram temple issue should be accepted by everyone, be it Hindu, Muslim or any other community. “Our stand has been consistent. When the PM said we will wait for the SC judgment, all ifs and buts should end,” he said.

Paswan said he had raised a point in an NDA meeting that they should stick to development agenda. “Some people raising issues like the Ram temple (construction) and Bajrangbali (UP CM Yogi Adityanath had called Lord Hanuman a Dalit) only confuse people. The temple can be the agenda of one party but not of the NDA or the government. Let us wait for the court’s order on it,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said the government would await the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Temple issue even as right wing organisations are demanding a legislation or an Ordinance facilitate the construction.

The LJP is the second major ally of the BJP to oppose an Ordinance. Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar recently said the issue needed to be resolved either through a court judgment or mutual agreement. Another seemingly friendly party — the Biju Janata Dal — is also raising questions about the fighter jet purchase, seeking a white paper into the deal.

After PM’s statement, no doubt left 

When the PM said we will wait for the Supreme Court judgment, all ifs and buts should end… the temple can be the agenda of one party but not of the NDA or the government. Let us wait for the top court’s order on the temple issue.  — Ram Vilas Paswan, LJP Supremo