No political benefit for BJP from Ram Mandir

Ayodhya: Debunking the popular perception that the BJP benefitted from Ram Mandir issue, Ved Prakash Gupta, BJP MLA from Ayodhya, feels that there is no political benefit for the party from Ram temple issue.

"Ram Mandir issue has not been taken up for any political benefit. There is no political benefit in it. Otherwise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have built in it last five year," Gupta told The Hans India here.

He further said: "There is no way a government can be formed because of Ram Mandir issue. Our three governments have gone (in UP) on this issue. But it's a question of Hindu mythology. If Ram Mandir is not constructed in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, then where can it be built?" asked Gupta.

He has claimed that Ram temple is already there in Ayodhya and lakhs of people are visiting the temple every year. "As the local MLA, I would like to point out that Ram Mandir is very much there in Ayodhya and lakhs of people are performing pooja and offering prayers there," he explained, referring to small makeshift Ram temple which was set up at the disputed site here after Babri Majid was demolished by kar sevaks in 1992.

He, however, admitted that new Ram Mandir should be built. "New Ram temple will be made at the place where prayers are being offered now, once Supreme Court delivers judgement on this issue," he maintained.

Replying to query, he said that work on new Ram temple would start immediately after SC's judgment. "The work will start the next day after SC's judgment. There will not be any delay. We are waiting for the court judgment. We have respect for our Constitution," he said.

He further added that it was the issue of land title, not about the temple. "The case in Supreme Court is about who owns the land and its tittle. The case is nothing to do with Ram Mandir or Babri Majid," he maintained. Asked whether Ayodhya would benefit post the construction of the temple,

he said it would immensely benefit.

"We have already taken up several infrastructure projects, including expansion of (bathing) ghats in Sarayu river. Efforts are underway to beautify Ayodhya and make it clean. We are aware that people from all over the world will come here once the temple is built," he explained.

On the BJP's prospects in the current General Elections, he claimed that BJP and its ally would get more than 73 MP seats in Uttar Pradesh. "All the people including the poor and downtrodden benefited from the development and welfare schemes implemented by the central government.

They always support BJP," he said, adding that no one can stop BJP's victory in UP and across the country.He further claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi took up so many developmental projects in last five years that other governments could not do in last 70 years.