Rajasthan: “Ram Temple construction, the biggest issue on country,” says Assam CM on campaign trail

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on November 23 said that the construction of Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya is not just an election issue but a day of joy for the whole country.

Speaking to the media, Assam CM said that there is no bigger issue in the country than the Ram Temple.

“What is the biggest issue in the country other than Ram Temple? You demolished the Babri Masjid and then the Ram Temple was built. On January 22, there will be Pratishtha of the Ram temple… It’s not just an election issue, it’s an issue for the whole country…” he said.

Notably, the Supreme Court’s verdict in 2019 on the Ayodhya dispute paved the way for the construction of a grand Ram temple.

Following the apex court verdict, the centre set up the Ram Janma Bhoomi Tirtha Kshetra’ Trust to take all decisions regarding the construction of a magnificent Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The construction of the temple has been progressing at a steady pace under the supervision of the Trust.

Further, taking a jibe at the Congress party’s leadership in Rajasthan, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that two prominent leaders of the grand old party- Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are engaged in a blame game against each other.

“There is a competition going on between Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot that ‘Kaun Jyada Nikamma hai’ (Who is more worthless). Ashok Gehlot says ‘it is Pilot’ (Sachin Pilot) while Sachin Pilot says ‘it is Gehlot’…” the BJP leader said.

Later, after addressing a public rally in Jaipur, the Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, while speaking to the reporters, said, “Ashok Gehlot should know that PM Modi is there in the hearts of the people of Rajasthan…”

Rajasthan is set for assembly polls on November 25, with votes to be counted on December 3.

Of the 200 assembly seats, 199 will be contested on November 25, as elections in the Karanpur constituency were adjourned due to the passing of the Congress candidate Gurmeet Singh Koonar. In 2018, the Congress won 99 seats, while the BJP won 73. Gehlot assumed the CM position with the support of BSP MLAs and Independents.

BJP has been persistently accusing the Congress of appeasement over vote bank politics.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, earlier this morning, criticised the ruling Congress Government in Rajasthan, alleging that the communal clashes took place in the State with planned strategies and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot failed to take any concrete action against the rioters due to ‘vote bank’ politics.

Addressing a press conference here in Jaipur, on the last day of the campaign for the Rajasthan Assembly elections, Amit Shah said that the State witnessed several incidents as an example of the appeasement politics by the Gehlot-led Congress Government.

“Appeasement politics crossed all limits during Gehlot’s Government. In the last 5 years, planned riots have taken place in Chhabra, Bhilwara, Karauli, Jodhpur, Chittorgarh, Nohar, Mewat, Malpura, and Jaipur. Due to vote bank politics, the Gehlot government did not take any concrete action against the rioters. Bulldozer was used on Ram Darbar in Salasar. In Alwar, a Shivalinga was broken with a drilling machine. A bulldozer rammed the cow shed in Kathumar; you can see many such cases of appeasement in Rajasthan in the last five years,” Amit Shah said.

(with inputs from ANI)