Three-cornered contest puts Faizabad on centre-stage

Ayodhya: Lallu Singh, BJP's sitting MP from Faizabad, said that Ram Mandir in Ayodhya would be built within next five years.

"We have given in our manifesto that Ram Mandir will be built. But the country is facing several challenges. We have terrorism problem in Kashmir.

Our government wanted to solve the critical issues before focusing on Ram temple," Lallu Singh told The Hans India in an exclusive interview at BJP's office in Faizabad, 15 kilometres away from here.

In 2014, Lallu Singh won Lok Sabha elections on BJP ticket from Faizabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh, with a majority of 2.82 lakh votes against Samajwadi Party's Mitrasen Yadav.

Ayodhya where Babri Majid was pulled down by kara sevaks allegedly led by BJP leaders in 1992 to pave way for the construction of Ram Mandir, falls under Faizabad parliamentary constituency.

There is a makeshift temple at the dispute site in Ayodhya and thousands of devotees visit it every day despite heavy security.

Supreme Court is handling the case now. Ram Janmabhoomi movement paid rich political dividends to the saffron party across the country.

Singh is eyeing his second consecutive term in this election in a three-cornered contest in which Samajwadi Party (SP) fielded Anand Sen Yadav on behalf of SP-BSP alliance and Congress nominated Nirmal Khatri.

Asked why there was so much delay in fulfilling the promise made by BJP on Ram Mandir, he said: "There is no delay.

Saare Sadhu santu knows that Modi will build Ram Mandir.

Everybody has that confidence. We will definitely build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya within next five years," he said. On the prevailing political environment in Uttar Pradesh, Singh said people across the country are rooting for BJP.

"So are in Uttar Pradesh and Ayodhya. We are confident of winning 71-72 MP seats in Uttar Pradesh this time," he said. Singh claimed that the alliance between SP and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would not have any adverse impact on the BJP's tally in UP.

"Some people may not be aware, but the poor are with (Narendra) Modi. Our government has done a lot of things for the poor and downtrodden.

We built houses and toilets, gave free gas cylinders and free power. The other key things are free healthcare services up to Rs 5 lakh under Ayushmaan Bharat for poor families and yearly payment of Rs 6,000 to each small farmer under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi.

The government helped the poor with all these schemes and they are ready to vote for Modi," he reasoned.

Asked about the other unfulfilled promise made by Narendra Modi that he would bring back black money and pay Rs 15 lakh to each poor family, Singh said Modi never made that promise.

"Modi only said that there was so much black money belonging to Indians lying outside the country that every family will get Rs 15 lakh if it is brought back. He never said that he would give that much money".

On the works he took up in his Faizabad parliamentary constituency, he said he brought medical college to his place.

"Modernisation works of railway network are underway. Ayodhya Railway Station is being developed as the model and modern railway station in the country.

Ayodhya will soon get an airport and ring road. We have also widened road network," he said, adding that the government had spend Rs 21,000 crore on the Faizabad constituency in last five years.

Replying to another query, he said SP nominee and Congress candidate would not give tough fight to him in this election and he would win hands down.

"There is no contest here in Faizabad. Everything is in our favour," he said.