BJP committed to build a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya : Rajnath

"BJP's view is very clear about a grand temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya and the party is committed towards it, but we will not give any reaction as of now. First, let the court's verdict come," Rajnath told reporters in reply to a question on the sidelines of the BJP's state working committee meeting here. When asked about the party's startegy after the court's verdict is out, he said it was an internal matter which was not to be disclosed.

"Whatever decision is given by the court it will be okay," he added. On elaborate security arrangements being made by the Uttar Pradesh government in view of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court's verdict on the title suits later this month, Rajnath said the precuations being taken were more than required.

"They are trying to create panic by being extra cautious and at times its results are not good," he said, adding vote bank politics was behind fears being expressed about the verdict triggering a backlash. Earler, addressing the state working committee, Rajnath said the party can leave everything but will never part with Lord Ram.

"Lord Ram is our identity as well as the nation's. We can never leave Ram," he said. Every person, irrespective of his religion, should always keep in mind that Ram is the cultural identity of the country, he added.

Noting that the majority of Muslims admit that Ram was born in Ayodhya, he said, "There are only a few, who are trying to give a political colour to this issue." The BJP leader lamented that when the party raises the issue of Ram temple, Amarnath and Ram Setu it is labelled as communal. "But the question is if the BJP does not raise these issues, then who will," he said. "The court's verdict is about to come and we have to wait for that," he told the workers.

Addressing the party's two-day state working committee meeting here, the former BJP chief asked party leaders and workers to practise self-restraint and refrain from speaking about internal matters of the organisation publicly.

"If anyone has to criticise or has to say anything then there is a suitable forum in the party to do so. Nobody is allowed to break the discipline by speaking about internal matters publicly," Rajnath said.

The former BJP chief's statement came a day after infighting in the party's state unit came to the fore with some dissidents distributing a letter addressed to party President Nitin Gadkari asking him to take action against some leaders allegedly damaging the organization in Uttar Pradesh.

"When a new working committee is constituted sometimes some persons, including dedicated workers, cannot be accomodated," he said and told them that respect does not come with the post.

"Sometime even persons sitting on the higer posts do not get respect. Before criticising anyone the party leaders and workers should first introspect about what they themselves are doing," he said.

The senior leader said if there were any complaints with the president it should be discussed at a suitable platform. "If it is done publicly I assume that such persons have no committment for the party," he said adding that in BJP the directives of the president are supreme. Rajnath said that if such activities continue then the state president should not hesitate in taking disciplinary action.