Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh being welcomed by Gyan Das, mahant of Hanumangari temple in Ayodhya on Sunday. (Press Trust of India)
Lack of majority in the Upper House of Parliament is coming in the way of BJP to bring in a motion and make law for construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Union Home minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday.
Construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya was among the promises made by BJP in its election manifesto which it had released in the run up to last year's general elections.
Some other contentious issues like abrogation of Article 370 which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir and enactment of Uniform Civil Code were also promised in the party's manifesto.
"BJP does not have a majority in Rajya Sabha, so this time it is not possible to bring motion in the Parliament to make law for the construction of Ram temple," Mr Singh said.
He was in Ayodhya to take part in a programme organised by senior Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Nritya Gopal Das.
When asked if BJP will bring the motion for a Ram Temple if it gets a majority in Rajya Sabha in the days to come, Mr Singh said, "It is an imaginary question."
The ruling party has 45 members in the Upper House and it is unlikely that it will have the numbers during its current tenure. In the House of 243 members, Opposition has at least 132 MPs.
The Home Minister also talked about the issue of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, saying he will speak "some thing on Dawood in a day or two."
In a major embarrassment for the government last week, Union Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in a written reply that the location of Dawood Ibrahim, one of India's most wanted terrorists, was not known to the government and, once he is located, his extradition process will be initiated.
Later, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said the underworld don lives in Pakistan and the Centre would continue to pursue the case very seriously.