BJP to raise Ram temple pitch ahead of UP polls? Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma to visit Ayodhya tomorrow

Union Minister Mahesh Sharma will be visiting the Ayodhya to inspect the proposed site where government plans to build a Ramayana Museum.

New Delhi: Union Minister Mahesh Sharma will be visiting Ayodhya on Tuesday to inspect the proposed site where the government is planning to construct a Ramayana Museum. 

The Narendra Modi-led government at Centre plans to set up a Ramayana Museum in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh where Assembly elections are due next year. As per a report, the Centre has granted a 25-acre plot for the project which is some 15 km away from the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex. 

Sharma, who will be reaching Ayodhya on Tuesday, is also expected to visit the disputed temple site and will be meeting members of Ramayana Circuit Advisory Board. 

The Union Minister would also deliberate on plans for an International Ramayana Conclave, which would be held either in Ayodhya or Chitrakoot district. The conference is likely to be attended by delegates from about 12 countries, sources said.

However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has insisted that the Ram Temple will not be an electoral plank in the Uttar Pradesh election due early next year. 

"My visit to Ayodhya has nothing to do with UP Assembly elections. I want tourism to improve in Ayodhya. The government has even sanctioned Rs 225 crore for it out of which Rs 151 crore will be spent exclusively on Ayodhya," Mahesh Sharma said.

"We want it to be a museum where people from around the world come, and get an insight into Lord Ram's life and the Ramayana," Sharma added. 

BJP MP from Gonda Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh told News18, "At present, Uttar Pradesh is facing severe issues and our party will make sure to uproot corruption and law and order problem from the state, which has prevailed during Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) regime. Ram temple issue will not be raised during state assembly elections."

Meanwhile, after veteran party leader Subramanian Swamy, Bajrang Dal president Vinay Katihar has also raised his pitch urging the government to take steps for the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya site. 

"Government must introduce a bill in Lok Sabha for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya," Katihar said.