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

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.

We feel that the statement by Prime Minister is a positive step in the direction of Temple Construction. The Prime Minister reiterating the resolve to construct a grand Sri Ram Temple in Ayodhya in his interview is in tune with the resolution passed by BJP at Palampur in 1989.

— RSS (@RSSorg) January 1, 2019

Even in the 2014 Election Manifesto prepared under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi, the BJP promised to explore all possibilities within the framework of the Constitution to facilitate the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

— RSS (@RSSorg) January 1, 2019

The people of Bharat have reposed complete confidence and gave BJP the full mandate. The people of Bharat expect this government to fulfil the same promise during this tenure.
- Dattatreya Hosabale, Sah Sarkaryvah (RSS)

— RSS (@RSSorg) January 1, 2019

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.)