Delhi: Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is hopeful that the construction of Ram Mandir would begin in Ayodhya by year-end.
In an interview to Firstpost, he also expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would deliver a positive verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi case.
"I’m confident that the apex court will give a favourable judgment. And if it happens, by the end of the year, construction of a Ram Temple will begin with mutual consent. I’ve filed a writ petition seeking day-to-day hearing of petitions in the Supreme Court. Our case is very strong and even the Allahabad High Court had supported our stand based on the evidence presented by us..." he was quoted by the website as saying.
On being asked if the Muslim leaders would agree to it, he said, "The Muslim leaders have said that they would accept the Supreme Court’s verdict... During Narsimha Rao’s government in 1994, the Supreme Court had asked the government to take a stand on Ram Janmabhoomi issue. The government gave an affidavit in the court, which stated that if a pre-existing temple was found beneath the mosque, the Hindus would keep this land for temple construction. And, across Saryu river Muslims would built a mosque. No mosque will be allowed to be built in Ram Janmabhoomi..."
He added, "During the 800 years of Muslim rule, some 40,000-odd temples were demolished in the country. We’ve asked for three – Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya, Krishna temple in Mathura and Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi. If Muslims agree to give us these three temples, they can keep the rest 39,997 mosques."
When queried whether it was practically possible to shift/construct mosque across the Saryu river, Swamy had to say this - "Even in Islamic countries like in Saudi Arabia, an important heritage mosque was demolished to give way for the construction of a project. An alternative plot was given and it was built at some other site. According to Islam, a mosque is a facilitating centre for offering Namaz, where people gather and read. It’s a kind of prayer hall, unlike the way a temple is. If Muslims agree to it, Hindus will join in the construction of the mosque."
