Lucknow: In a major development, Mahant Suresh Das of Digambar Akhara has said that if Ram temple construction does not begin this year, then the BJP is bound to face defeat in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
"The BJP has a substantial majority, the President belongs to BJP and the party has an overwhelming majority in the UP government. If Ram temple cannot be constructed now, then when can it be constructed? If the BJP shies away from this issue now, the party cannot hope to win elections next year", he told reporters.
Mahant said saints and seers of Ayodhya would soon launch a stir if the Modi government did not take necessary steps. Mahant Satyendra Das, the head priest of the makeshift Ram temple, said that the saints and seers of the country should sit together and think about an alternative to the BJP which does not seem too keen on the Ram temple.
