Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced at a public meeting in Jharkhand that the Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya within four months. In his speech at a rally in Pakur, he said, “For a hundred years, we Indians have been wanting to build a grand Ram temple, where Bhagwan Ram was born.” He then asked the crowd present there: “You tell me, should we build it or not?” There were cheers from the crowd.
Amit Shah also accused the opposition of trying to delay the case indefinitely. “The Congress lawyers and Kapil Sibal kept on telling the Supreme Court. ‘Don’t argue the case now.. delay the case.’ Why? What pain do they have in their bellies?”
He then said: “The Supreme Court has given its verdict. Now, within four months a sky-high temple of Lord Ram will be built in Ayodhya.”
The Supreme Court last month had delivered the verdict in the Ayodhya land case. The unanimous judgment which was delivered by a five-judge Constitution bench, granted the possession of the disputed 2.77-acre land – where the Babri Masjid once stood – to the Union government, to be handed to a Board of Trustees for the construction of a temple. The verdict also directed the government designate another piece of land at a prominent place in Ayodhya for a mosque.
The Home Minister’s comment comes as the country is on the boil with several protests – most of them student-led – against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Registry of Citizens (NRC).
The Prime Minister tweeted appealing to people to accept the Citizenship Amendment Act, saying that they need to keep calm as it does not attack any religious community. He also said that debate was acceptable but not the destruction of public property, which many allege that was the work of the Delhi police
The Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 was passed by both Houses of Parliament with overwhelming support. Large number of political parties and MPs supported its passage. This Act illustrates India’s centuries old culture of acceptance, harmony, compassion and brotherhood.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2019
I want to unequivocally assure my fellow Indians that CAA does not affect any citizen of India of any religion. No Indian has anything to worry regarding this Act. This Act is only for those who have faced years of persecution outside and have no other place to go except India.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2019
The need of the hour is for all of us to work together for the development of India and the empowerment of every Indian, especially the poor, downtrodden and marginalised.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2019
We cannot allow vested interest groups to divide us and create disturbance.
This is the time to maintain peace, unity and brotherhood. It is my appeal to everyone to stay away from any sort of rumour mongering and falsehoods.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 16, 2019