Cong wants to corner BJP over Temple issue through seer

After Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) sponsored 'dharm sansad' at Kumbh failed to announce the date for Ram Temple construction triggering protests from a section of the saints, Congress is preparing to ''corner'' the BJP over the Temple issue through the seers, close to it.

Political analysts here say that the decision by Swami Swaroopananda Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Dwarika Peeth, to lead a march to Ayodhya by the seers on February 10 and lay the foundation stone for Ram Temple construction at Ayodhya on February 21, has come as a shot for the Congress and has put the BJP in a quandary.

The VHP sponsored 'dharm sansad' had, however, not only refrained from setting a date but had also decided not to hold any agitation for the Temple till the next Lok Sabha polls were over.

After Swaroopananda's declaration, some other seers, considered close to Congress, have also cornering the VHP and BJP over the Temple issue. 

''BJP, VHP and RSS should stop talking about Ram Temple after shankaracharya's announcement,'' said Kalki Peethadheeshwar Acharya Pramod Krishnan.

''The decision by Swaroopananda, who is considered close to Congress, has put the BJP in a difficult situation...it will not to be seen to be working against the Ram Temple construction with the polls so near,'' said political analyst Pradeep Kapur. 

Kapur said that BJP leaders had been attacking the Congress for ''creating hurdles'' in the way of Ram Temple through lawyers in the supreme court, where the matter was pending.

State BJP leaders also feel that Congress is behind the call for marching to Ayodhya and lay the foundation stone for the Ram Temple. ''Congress is using the saints to put us in a corner,'' said a state BJP leader here.

The saints, close to VHP, have already started saying that the foundation for the Ram Temple had already been laid. They have also sought to term the 'Param dharm sansad' of Swaroopananda ''fake''.

''Ours was the real dharm sansad....Swaroopananda's dharm sansad was fake,'', said Swami Hansdevacharya.

What added to the woes of the VHP and BJP was the declaration of support to Swaroopanand by the All India Akhara Parishad (AIAP), an apex body of the seers in the country.

''We are with Swaroopanandaji....VHP can not build the Temple...it is a BJP tool,'' said AIAP president Narendra Giri.v

It will be interesting to see what action does the state government take, when the march to Ayodhya starts.