A grand temple dedicated to Shri Ram in Ayodhya is what drove the BJP to power for the first time in any state in 1991. More than two and a half decades later, the construction of this temple is still awaited. While some are against the very existence of this concept, a majority, including the BJP, want to make this to take place through the standard ‘democratic procedure.’
Union Minister Uma Bharati, who refuses to wait further for the construction of the Ram Mandir, has called for a constitutional amendment that would ease the way for beginning the construction. In her words, the Ram Mandir should be made as soon as possible, and no further delay should be afforded.
Only a couple of days ago, at a spiritual gathering, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath had assured everyone that the Ram Mandir will be built, and in accordance with the laws of the nation. He had asked the ‘impatient’ supporters to show some more patience regarding this issue, and also stated that BJP is in no mood from backtracking on this issue.
While such a statement from a towering political figure is no doubt reassuring for many, and would certainly put some absurd theories to rest, the recent stance of Uma Bharati shows that BJP is in no mood to play with words anymore. Just recently, she paid a visit to the sanctum sanctorum at the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi site, along with Mahant Nitya Gopal Das, senior VHP leader and chairman of Sri Ram Janmbhoomi Nyas.
To quote Uma Bharti, “Now, I will not keep patient over the issue of Ram temple. We want construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya at the earliest.” Not only this, Uma Bharti also suggested that an amendment to the Constitution for the construction of a Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is also possible, as a ‘national pledge’.
To quote her further, “Now the whole nation is waiting to witness the grand construction of the Ram temple. This is a great opportunity, if we miss it we will miss the moment of pride to be recorded in history. Governments come and go but this time the Modi and Yogi governments have got absolute majority. At this moment, the devotees of Lord Rama are waiting that our national pledge must be fulfilled.”
With this, one can simply perceive that slowly but steadily, BJP has begun switching gears with respect to the Ram mandir issue. The skeptics might deride it as a political gimmick, but BJP is unlikely to ditch the very issue which propelled them to the mainstream.
While Uma Bharti may not have a very smooth relationship with the BJP high command, she is still a Union Minister (holding the portfolio of Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation as of now), and the talks of a constitutional amendment for the creation of the Ram Mandir complex could certainly not have emerged without some serious backing from the top.
Given that none expected the BJP to end its alliance with PDP in Jammu & Kashmir, the construction of Ram Mandir by the end of 2018 or the beginning of 2019 is not a far-fetched idea either. It might very well be the BJP’s trump card.