Pehley mandir, fir sarkar: Shiv Sena says BJP will get votes only if it builds the promised Ram temple

New Delhi: As pressure builds on the government to bring an ordinance for the construction of Ram temple despite the matter being sub judice in Supreme Court, Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut stoked a controversy, saying, the BJP formed the government on the pretext of building a Ram temple but hasn’t done anything in the regard. 

The controversial leader from Maharashtra said that the BJP garnered votes in the name of the promised temple and now the people will vote for the saffron party only if the temple is built. 

Raut said Modi government came to power in 2014 with a historic mandate which is impossible to achieve again. Babri Masjid has been demolished and the land is clear for the construction. 

“They kept on forming their government in the name of Ram



Mandir. Now, we say that they must first construct the temple, then form the government. We never raised the issue of Ram temple in our rallies, but since Modi's government came into power with a full majority, only then we said that the temple should be constructed. We are sure that nobody will get such majority of votes again. The one who forms the govt will construct the temple. Babri Masjid has been demolished, the land is clear. If they cannot construct Ram temple, then they must let us know,” Raut said.   

The sentiment for the promised Ram temple is dominant not just in Uttar Pradesh but the whole country, he added. 

Raut is not new to controversy. Earlier he landed in a soup for his comments on Babri Masjid demolition where he suggested the mosque in Ayodhya was destroyed to build the Ram Mandir.