‘Can’t Wait Till Eternity’: VHP Slams Modi’s Remarks on Ram Temple

“We are not content with PM’s comments on Ram Mandir. We cannot wait for eternity,” the VHP working president said.

VHP Working President Alok Kumar and PM Narendra Modi. 

(Photo: IANS/PTI/Altered by The Quint)

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday, 2 January, expressed dissatisfaction over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comments on the Ram Temple issue that he made on Tuesday in an interview to ANI.

“We are not content with PM’s comments on Ram Mandir. We cannot wait till eternity. Law is only course to take.”

VHP Working President Alok Kumar, as quoted by media reports

The reaction from the VHP came after PM Modi said any government action on the temple construction can happen only after judicial process is over.

The right-wing group further said that it will meet the Prime Minister over the issue, and will also bring it up at the Kumbh Mela to be held later this month.

It added that it will continue to push for taking the legislation route for the temple's construction, asking for a "substantive bill", instead of waiting for the SC judgment.

“The Ayodhya matter has not been listed before the appropriate bench, but it’s in the CJI’s court and the hearing may be far away.”

Alok Kumar, as quoted by CNN-News18

VHP’s Reaction at Odds With That of RSS?

The VHP's reaction on Modi's interview seems to be at odds with that of the RSS.

The RSS on Tuesday, 1 January, had said that people expect the Modi government to fulfill its promise of building the Ram temple within its tenure as the BJP was elected to power in 2014 for committing to all possible efforts to do so.

The RSS also described Modi's comments as a "positive step" towards the temple construction.

In an interview broadcast to ANI on Tuesday, Modi said, "Let the judicial process take its own course. Don't weigh it in political terms. Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever be our responsibility as government, we are ready to make all efforts."

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the Ram temple case on 4 January, even as Hindutva organisations, including the RSS and BJP ally Shiv Sena have been pitching for an ordinance to pave the way for an early construction.

(With inputs from PTI.)