RSS for first time sets 2025 as deadline for construction of Ram Temple

New Delhi/Prayagraj: Amid heightened debate on the construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya and Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintaining that the government would await Supreme Court verdict on it, the RSS on Friday set 2025 as the deadline for the construction of a grand temple. 

"Chha varsh ke paschaat 2025 mein phir se Kumbh Sampan hoga, tab tak Bharat ke Pratik Ram Mandir ki bhi nirman prakriya purn hokor rashtra samridhi ki deesha me agey barega (After six years, in 2025 there will be Kumbh yet again. By then we should have a Ram Temple which will be symbolic of national pride and progress)," senior RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi said at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh after a meeting between top VHP and RSS leaders. 

Bhaiyaji Joshi further said that Kumbh Mela gives the country an opportunity to make forward progress with its cultural and traditional heritage.

In this context, he said in 1951 when the foundation ('pran pratishtha') was laid for the Somnath temple in Gujaraj, the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad described the event as national pride and suggested that construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya - where Lord Rama was born - would be a chapter of similar importance.

In more ways than one, the remarks from RSS number two - Bjaiyaji Joshi - on the temple with a deadline for the first time shows Sanghparivar fountainhead's disapproval of the perceived 'delay' in the entire process for construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

In a recent interview, PM Modi hinted that his government could consider an ordinance to build a Ram Temple only after the Supreme Court, which is hearing the matter, delivers its verdict. 

"Let the judicial process be over. After the judicial process is over, whatever will be our responsibility as the government, we are ready to make all efforts," he had said.The Supreme Court is again expected to hear the case on January 29.

During recently held BJP National Convention meet, party chief Amit Shah also made a strong pitch for construction of a grand Ram Mandir at Ayodhya and said his party is "committed" for a Temple through constitutional route only.

"The BJP workers should be rest assured that we have been committed to construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya through constitutional route and we are committed to it today also," BJP national president said at his presidential address at party's two-day National Convention meet on January 11.

VHP working president Alok Kumar had welcomed Mr Shah's remarks and said: "We agree with his statement. We are also for construction of a Ram Temple through constitutional mechanism.....By his statement, he (Amit Shah) has not said that an Ordinance or a new law cannot come in Parliament".(UNI)