On Modi's temple remark, VHP says can't wait forever

Virtually rejecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion that the Centre would wait for the Supreme Court's decision on the Ayodhya issue, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday said that it could not ''wait indefinitely'' for the Ram temple.

''Hindus cannot wait till infinity for the court verdict on Ram temple... Making a law for the construction of the temple is the only way left now,'' senior VHP leader Bholendra said in Lucknow.

VHP, which had organised a 'Dharam Sabha' (religious meeting) in Ayodhya in November last year in which the saint community had demanded a Parliamentary legislation for the construction of the Ram temple, also found itself in a difficult situation.

''We will decide about our future strategy at the forthcoming Dharam Sansad (religious parliament) at Kumbh in Prayagraj next month,'' a senior VHP leader told DH from Ayodhya.

The Hindu seers also expressed disappointment over Modi's remarks.

''Hindus are feeling cheated by the remarks... BJP had promised a Ram temple... The BJP will have to pay a heavy price for the betrayal in the next Lok Sabha polls in 2019,'' said Satyendra Das, the chief priest at the makeshift Ram temple in Ayodhya.

A Hindu seer in Ayodhya claimed on Wednesday that a top BJP leader had told him that the government was not in favour of a legislation for the Ram temple's construction.

The Muslim clerics and leaders, however, hailed Modi's remarks and said that the remarks were in accordance with the constitution.

''We welcome the remarks... We have full faith in the Supreme Court and will abide by its verdict,'' said Iqbal Ansari, one of the main Muslim plaintiffs in the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits.