LUCKNOW: BJP, which has been struggling hard to regain its pre-eminent position in Uttar Pradesh, today revived the Ram Temple issue promising construction of a grand temple in Ayodhya if voted to power.
The BJP's manifesto for the state Assembly elections brought back the issue which had once propelled the party to the centerstage of national politics in the 80s and early 90s. "Construction of a grand temple is associated with the faith of crores of people of the country. Ram is the symbol of prestige, pride and dignity of the country. Unfortunately due to psuedo-secularism and vote bank politics it is being opposed. BJP is committed to remove all hurdles in the path of construction of Ram temple," the manifesto said.
The manifesto was released by senior leaders, including Uma Bharati, Kalraj Mishra, Mukhtar Abas Naqvi, Narendra Singh Tomar, Suddhendra Kulkarni and UP state unit President Surya Pratap Shahi at the party office here. On questions regarding the temple at Ayodhya, Shahi said that the party was of the opinion that Hinduism was the life substance of the country, but due to vote bank politics it was being attacked by parties, including Congress, SP, BSP and the Left.
Leader of BJP Legislative Party Om Prakash Singh said that the party was opposed to religion-based reservation. "The UPA government decision is motivated by vote bank politics and when BJP comes to power 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities would be scrapped and 27 per cent quota of the OBCs will be restored," he said. In fact for welfare and development of economically weaker sections among upper caste, the party announced to constitute a Samanya Nirdhan Varg Kalyan Ayog.
"This commission will be constituted for 50 per cent people of unreserved class, who are socio-economically backward. Arrangement of necessary reservation for them will be made," Shahi said.