Uma joins Swamy on Ram temple

Despite BJP skirting the Ram temple issue, saffron-clad Union Minister Uma Bharti on Sunday sought a resolution to the religious dispute through dialogue.

Bharti hailed controversial BJP leader Subramanian Swamy as her "hero" and said she believed Rajya Sabha MP’s words that work on Ram temple in Ayodhya will kick-start by year end.

"I respect Swamy very much. He is my hero. I was 15-16 years old when Emergency was imposed and Dr Swamy, George Fernandes were my heroes. For me, he is a heroic figure. So whatever he says, I will believe that," Bharti, a flag bearer of Ram temple movement, said.

Swamy has been writing to PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah for expediting the petition pending in Supreme Court on temple issue, after Allahabad High Court in its 2010 judgment had stated that the central dome at the site in Ayodhya belonged to Hindus, while it had sought splitting of disputed land into three parts.