'Keep political parties away from Ram Temple issue'

Three days after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) sponsored 'dharm sabha' in Ayodhya served an ultimatum to the BJP-led government to make a law for the construction of Ram temple on the disputed site, another 'dharm sansad' in Varanasi on Wednesday issued a 'dharmadesh' (religious decree) asking the political parties to ''keep away'' from the issue and leave it to the saints.

''Ram Temple is a matter of faith... political parties should keep away from it... they are using it to achieve their objectives... it can not be allowed,'' said Swami Avimukteshwarananda after the conclusion of the three day 'dharm sansad', which was chaired by Swami Swaroopananda Sarswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Sharda Peeth.

Asking the government to approach the Supreme Court to expedite the hearing of the Ayodhya case, the Swami said that the construction of Ram temple should be undertaken by religious leaders, including the four Shankaracharyas and other prominent saints.

Launching a veiled attack on the VHP and BJP, Avimukteshwarananda said that some organisations had been trying to gain political mileage out of the Ram temple issue, which is not proper.

The 'dharm sansad' also discussed cow slaughter, demolition of temples for constructing Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits.

The Shankaracharya criticised the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh for its decision to build a 221-metre high statue of Lord Rama on the bank of the Saryu river in Ayodhya.

''Those, who want to build the statue, have no interest in building the Ram Temple... a statue of Lord Rama in the open is irreligious... it is an attempt to fool the people,'' he remarked.

''Hindus are being misled in the name of religion... someone is advising them to have ten children as if they are child producing machines,'' he said apparently referring to the statements of some saffron leaders.