New Delhi: Raising the political ante ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Union Water Minister Uma Bharti on Monday said that the land in Ayodhya "belongs to Lord Ram only and there is no doubt about it".
The stakes are high in Uttar Pradesh as the Akhilesh government is facing a resurgent BJP on the one hand and BSP and other parties on the other.
The land in Ayodhya has been an emotive issue for the Hindus as it is the birthplace of Lord Ram and hence has a strong potential to polarise votes.
Uma Bharati's statement comes after another Central minister announced his visit to Ayodhya earlier in the day.
Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Tuesday, which is being seen as the ruling BJP trying to politicise the Ayodhya issue ahead of the polls.
Sharma will visit a proposed site in Ayodhya where his government is planning to build a Ramayana Museum.
The Centre has already granted a 25-acre plot for the project, which is some 15 km from the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex.
