New Delhi: Stressing that the Bharatiya Janata Party will deliver its promise on building Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, party's senior leader Subramanian Swamy has said that by 2016 work on the construction of the temple will begin, reports claimed on Sunday.
Speaking to reporters on the BJP's agenda, Swamy said, “Ram Mandir will be constructed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked me to give him some time till 2016. He said the work on its construction will begin by 2016.”
He added, “ Only a press release is needed to be issued by the president as there is no need of voting in parliament for the work to begin. The press release can be prepared by the Cabinet.”
On being asked about the delay in construction, Swamy said, “Everything can't be done instantly. We need to see when is the right time to begin the process. For the past 66 years we have waited for the construction of Ram Mandir, can't we wait for one more year?”
In October last year, BJP president Amit Shah had backed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) stand on the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya after participating in the RSS’ three-day convention.
“I agree with RSS view. The new government needs some time to construct Ram Mandir. The government has time till 2019,” he was quoted as saying.
During campaign for 2014 General Elections, contentious issues like construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya were included in the BJP's manifesto.
