Seers seek Ram Temple construction through legislation

Striking a note of warning to the BJP, the seers in Ayodhya on Tuesday slammed the saffron party for ''dilly-dallying'' on the Ram Temple issue and demanded a Parliamentary legislation to pave the way for its construction even as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sought to skirt the issue.

Adityanath, who was on a visit to Ayodhya, his sixth after assuming the charge of the state, talked about closing illegal slaughterhouses, cows, beautification of the temple town and its development as a tourist centre but chose not to refer directly to the Ram Temple construction issue.

Speaking at a function on the occasion of 15th death anniversary of the former chairman of the Ram Janambhoomi Trust Mahant Ramchandra Paramhans, Adityanath said that his government was committed for the development of Ayodhya and protect the cows. The mahant of Digambar Akhara, Suresh Das, however, came down heavily on the BJP for what he termed ''dilly-dallying'' on the Ram Temple issue.

''No more dilly-dallying.....the centre should ensure Ram Temple construction through a Parliamentary legislation....only the Ram Temple will be the fitting tribute to Ramchandra Paramhans,'' Das said in Ayodhya on Tuesday.

He rejected the BJP's argument that the Temple issue was in the Supreme Court and hence the government could not do anything. ''If the centre can legislate on the SC/ST Act, which too was in the apex court, why can't it legislate on the Ram Temple,'' he said.

Another seer from Ayodhya referred to the BJP's promise that it would ensure Ram Temple construction if it had government at the centre and also in the state.