What is Shiv Sena doing about Ram Mandir? Asks VHP President

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) President Vishu Sadashiv Kokje on Sunday asked the Shiv Sena’s plans for the construction of Ram Mandir. His reaction comes after Sena’s announced that its leaders would visit Ayodhya on 16th June to offer prayers. 

The VHP Chief said: “The Sena should offer "creative suggestions" to the government which can pave the way for the building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya "as per Constitutional provisions.”

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Questioning Shiv Sena’s stance on the Ram Mandir matter, Kokje also added:

"The Sena should also say what it is doing in this matter (Ayodhya dispute)."

Speaking to PTI, Kokje stated that his organization does not have anything to do with the politically driven Ram Temple issue, but also cited that the whole case revolves around a million faiths.

"We have nothing to do with party politics on the Ram temple issue. But I believe that no party should play politics on this issue, because it is linked to the faith of millions of Hindus," said Kokje

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Kokje further added that VHP has always maintained its stand on the issue and has always been in favour of building the temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya under the purview of the Constitution.

"The government should take all possible steps, keeping social harmony and the faith of crores of people in mind, so that a legal solution can be reached at the earliest," he said.

Kokje further confirmed that VHP’s strategy on the Ram Temple Issue will be a matter of discussion during its ‘Kendriya Margdarshak Mandal’ in Haridwar on 19th and 20th June.

In a reply to a question, Kokje said that people across the country voted maturely during the Lok Sabha elections 2019. He also said that all those who voted were fully aware about the ongoing situation in the Ram Temple issue.

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He concluded by saying that:

"The country's environment, which has changed in recent times, is in the interest of nationalism and concept of Hindutva," he said. 

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray will be visiting Ayodhya with all the 18 Lok Sabha MPs of the party before the beginning of the monsoon session of Parliament. Thackeray had visited Ayodhya in November last year and demanded that Ram temple be constructed at the disputed site before the Lok Sabha elections.