Ram Gopal’s Ram Temple remark draws Yogi’s ire: ‘Can he say something same about Muslims?’

Replying to a question on why the SP leadership has not visited the Ram Temple so far, Yadav said the temple in Ayodhya has not been built as per Vastu

Yogi, Ram Temple, Ram Gopal Yadav, Ram Temple remark, Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party, SP,

(From left) Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ram Gopal Yadav, chief minister Yogi Adityanath. (File Photos)

Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ram Gopal Yadav’s remark on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has sparked a fresh political row with rival BJP.

Replying to a question on why the SP leadership has not visited the Ram Temple so far, Yadav said the temple in Ayodhya has not been built as per Vastu and is “bekaar” (useless).

“Hum roz Ram ke darshan karte hain… Woh mandir toh bekar ka hai… Aur kya mandir aise nahi bante. Purane mandir dekh lijiye kaise bante hain. Dakshin se lekar uttar tak… Naksha theek nahi bana hai. Vaastu ke lihaz se theek nahi bana hai (We pay obeisance to Ram every day. That temple is useless. Temples are not constructed like this. You can see the old temples from north to south. The map is not right. As per Vaastu, it is wrong),” the SP national general secretary told News 18 TV channel in Saifai in Mainpuri.

Yadav’s remarks drew a sharp reaction from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying the SP leader “couldn’t have made a similar remark about Muslims”.

Campaigning in Sitapur on Tuesday, Adityanath said, “A magnificent temple of Ram Lalla has been built in Ayodhya, yet the national general secretary of the Samajwadi Party has deemed the temple useless.”

“If he (Yadav) had made similar remarks about a Muslim, it would not have been tolerated. But when it comes to you, he says whatever comes to his mind. Can you accept this,” Adityanath asked BJP supporters.

“Ram Gopal Yadav’s statement is an insult to the Sanatan faith of millions of Ram devotees. The faith of those who have dedicated their entire lives to the Ram Temple is being attacked. These people are not only playing with the faith of India for vote bank but are also challenging the divine authority of Lord Shri Ram,” the CM said, adding that the intention behind the statement was to hurt people’s feelings.

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“Efforts are being made to preserve the vote bank by following the policy of appeasement. Their reality is clearly visible from such statements,” he said.

Without naming the Samajwadi Party, the CM said, “These individuals are far away from power. Chunaav ke baad inki garmi apne aap shaant ho jayegi (After the polls, their arrogance will go away).”

“Supporters of the SP opened fire on Ram devotees and performed aarti for terrorists. They demand the withdrawal of cases against these perpetrators. They celebrate the death of Ram devotees and shed crocodile tears over the demise of the mafia,” Adityanath alleged.