(Image source from: Ram temple will become a reality soon: Subramanian Swamy})

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has on Monday moved the Supreme Court, seeking construction of the Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Subramanian Swamy is confident of a positive verdict from the Supreme Court on the Ram Janmabhoomi case and is hopeful that the construction of Ram Mandir would begin in Ayodhya by year-end.

The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear the plea of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, over the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. This came after Swamy has submitted a petition in the apex court, stating that the disputed mosque in Ayodhya could be shifted to some place across river Saryu and the Lord Ram temple be constructed at the disputed site. In response, the court said that the issue would be listed before the bench, which is already hearing matters regarding the Ram temple-Babri Masjid row.

“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 a 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. The historical, archeological and epigraphy-based evidences have shown that there existed a temple beneath the Babri mosque,” Swamy said.

“The Muslim leaders have said that they would accept the Supreme Court’s verdict. I don’t want to do it forcibly. I had discussions with AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi, Syed Shahabuddin and other Muslim leaders. They also want day-to-day hearing,” he added.

“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,” he opined.

“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,” Swamy said.

By Premji