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The RSS has decided to raise the Ram mandir issue vigorously ahead of the 2019 polls. It has expressed regret over the Supreme Court decision to defer the hearing on the contentious issue. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi said the organisation expected the apex court to decide on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue by taking into consideration the sentiments of the Hindu community .
The RSS also stepped up the pressure by stating that it would resort to 1992-like agitation for construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya if the need arises.
It may be re- called that in 1992, then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Lal Krishna Advani led a nation-wide Rath Yatra, which saw the participation of thousands of members of RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal who demolished Babri Masjid on December 6. BJP was in power in the state with Kalyan Singh as the Chief Minister.
RSS spokesperson Bhaiyyaji Joshi said the possibility of the similar procession cannot be ruled out. “Avashyakta padi to karenge (We will do so if the need arises),” Joshi said on being asked if the RSS would consider launching a 1992-like agitation to erect Ram Mandir on the disputed land in Ayodhya.
Addressing a press conference at the end of a three-day national executive body meeting of the RSS in Thane district, Joshi said, “We expected the court to decide on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue taking into consideration the sentiments of the Hindu community.”
He said the wait for the court’s verdict on the long-pending issue has been too long.
“A legal sanction is required to pave way for construction of the temple. The wait for court’s verdict has been too long. Since the matter was listed (for hearing) on October 29, we felt Hindus would get good news before Diwali.”
“But the Supreme Court refused to hear the matter and deferred the hearing. The court also said their priorities were different, when asked when the verdict would come,” Joshi said.
The RSS leader said it was a matter of pain and anguish that an issue which Hindus consider their faith and to which their sentiment is attached is not on the priority list of the court.
