New Delhi: BJP MPs Vinay Katiyar and Sakshi Maharaj on Friday defended Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik's statement that a Ram Temple should be constructed in Ayodhya as opposition slammed it as an attempt "to vitiate atmosphere" by the saffron party.
Katiyar, who was in the forefront of the Ayodhya Ram temple movement, appreciated Naik's statement that a Ram temple should be constructed and said the structure will be built "sooner or later" and "no power in the world can stop this".
The BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh said that even the court had accepted that the site was the birthplace of Lord Ram.
"Everyone has a right to his or her opinion even if he is a Governor, President or the Prime Minister. If the Governor has said it, then what mistake has he done? The matter is in Supreme Court and a solution should be sought to this issue either through legal means or talks," Katiyar said.
"It is the desire of citizens that Ram Mandir is constructed as soon as possible and this wish should be fulfilled," Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, who has RSS background, yesterday said.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi refused to comment on the issue. "The matter is in the court, so I would not want to comment on it," he said.
Slamming the governor's statement, JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said it was the "same party who demolished the Babri masjid".
"These people demolished Babri masjid. They say sakba saath, sabka vikas..., but where is the development. They say there was a temple in place of Taj Mahal. I do not know what kind of temple was there," he said.
NCP MP Tariq Anwar said all these statement were pre-planned.
"All these things are planned. First came the conversion row, followed by the Godse comment and now comes the statement. All these statements are to vitiate the atmosphere," he said.
Echoing Naik's views, Katiyar said the temple will come up sooner or later.