Vishwa Hindu Parishad open to supporting Congress on mandir, takes U-turn

Lucknow: In a warning to the BJP over the delay in construction of Ram Mandir, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has said it is open to backing the Congress ahead of Lok Sabha elections if the party manifesto promises to build the temple in Ayodhya.

Speaking to the media during the Kumbh in Prayagraj, VHP working president Alok Kumar said, “The Congress has closed all its doors for us, but if they open their doors and include Ram Mandir in their manifesto, we may think of supporting the party.”

Kumar’s statement came days before VHP’s Dharm Sansad on January 31, during which Right-wing outfits are likely to up the pressure on the BJP government at the Centre to bring in a legislation for the temple. “We will seek blessings from seers and saints in the Dharm Sansad.

We will also put forth the issue of Ram Mandir and seek advice from seers and saints. Only then will we decide our next move,” Kumar said. He had also said that the Congress must remove the restrictions on the swamyasewaks joining the party.

However, Kumar later said that his statement has been “overstretched”. “The VHP has met all political parties in the recent days and requested them to support the legislature if it comes up in Parliament. We believe that the temple issue should be a matter of consensus in the political field.

We shall request all parties to include this in their manifesto. We will thank the parties that do it. However, that does not mean support to any party, it’s not our job and we do not do it,” Kumar said.

Reacting to Kumar’s comment, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “First, let the Congress party inherit Lord Ram in their heart. This is the same Congress whose leader Kapil Sibal said in court that the issue should be heard after elections. We are committed towards Ram Temple.”