'Ram Temple will be built because SC is ours,': UP BJP minister Mukut Verma

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh minister Mukut Bihari Varma has stirred up a controversy on the Ram Temple issue by saying that there was no problem in building the Ram temple because “the Supreme Court is ours”.

He further said that the judiciary, administration and the nation also belonged to “us.” Mr Varma said, “Construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is our resolve. The SC is ours. The judiciary, this country and the temple are ours too.”

He said that though the BJP has come to power on the plank of development, the Ram temple would be constructed because it was a matter of faith and commitment.

Mr Varma was accompanied by another minister, Swami Prasad Maurya, when he made this statement. Mr Maurya, during the media interaction, termed Mr Rahul Gandhi as a “villain” and said that his pilgrimage to Kailash Mansarover was for publicity.

The minister’s remark evoked a strong reaction from Opposition parties including Congress and Samajwadi Party that claimed that the statement amounted to contempt of court.

It may be recalled that last month, Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Maur-ya had said that if needed, the BJP would bring legislation in Parli-ament to remove hurdles in construction of Ram Temple construction.