RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had sought an "appropriate and requisite" law to build the temple at Ayodhya.
Highlights
- The JD(U) has opposed RSS demand for a law on building the Ram Temple.
- Party spokesperson KC Tyagi said top court must decide on the matter.
- Alternatively, Muslims and Hindus may settle it through talks, he added.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat's Vijaya Dashami message, asking the government to bring in a law aimed at building the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, has triggered a prompt reproof from ally Nitish Kumar in Bihar. Mr Kumar's party has underscored the need to pause, pointing out that Ram Janambhoomi title suit is still pending in the Supreme Court and "we believe we should wait for the verdict instead of needlessly raking it up".
"Once the judgment is passed, all the parties concerned should respect it," added Janata Dal (United) general secretary KC Tyagi, who said he was expressing the party's opinion on the matter.
His organisation, Mr Tyagi said, believed that the contentious issue should be resolved either by legal means or through talks between the Hindu and Muslim communities.
In his traditional Vijaya Dashami address, Mr Bhagwat had sought an "appropriate and requisite" law to build the temple before "certain elements" could stall the top court's judgment by presenting new interventions in the judicial process. "All kinds of evidence have affirmed that there was a temple on that site, but it is yet to be allocated for construction," he added.
With the state's substantial Muslim population, Mr Kumar has repeatedly underscored his secular stand, especially after his last year's tie-up with the BJP. Earlier this year, he even took on two union ministers who were accused of trying to trigger communal polarisation in the state. "I want to make it clear that this country will march ahead on the basis of love, compassion and communal harmony," he had said.
The Ram temple - one of the divisive issues in the country - had been pushed to the back of the BJP manifesto during the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections to accommodate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's message of development. But it has made headlines ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls, with various right-wing groups coming out in its support.
Earlier this month, Mr Bhagwat warned opposition parties against openly opposing the Ram Temple because it enjoyed the support of most Indians. Today, BJP ally Shiv Sena too referred to the issue. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray said he would visit Ayodhya on November 25, and "ask PM Modi why the Ram Temple has not been built yet".
Incidentally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had reiterated his commitment to uplifting the state at a recent government function held to unveil schemes concerning the minority community. "I really don't care who you are going to vote for, but I will not compromise on corruption, crime and communalism," he said.