Dattatreya Hosabale: RSS won't force Modi government on Ram Temple

LUCKNOW: The RashtriyaSwayamsewakSangh ( RSS) on Friday said that though the Ram temple was in the interest of the nation, it wasn’t pushing the BJP government into it any time soon.

"The Ram temple in Ayodhya is in the interest of the country. It is a national issue and RSS has been supporting religious organisations like VHP and dharamacharyas (seers) on the issue of Ram temple in Ayodhya," said RSS joint general secretary (Sah sarkaryavah) Dattatreya Hosabale at the start of a three-day meet in Lucknow.

Asked whether RSS would force BJP which had promised to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya once it got a majority of its own, Hosabale said, "The agenda of Ram temple in Ayodhya is stated in BJP's election manifesto, so we do not need to question it. The central government has time till 2019, but it is imperative to act on other important things which affect people every day. The government will decide its priorities, not the RSS. It should be given some time."

He said that the question was better addressed to BJP chief Amit Shah, who was also in the state capital to attend the executive council meeting. The ID card issued to volunteers at the meet had the picture of Lord Ram and Saryu river of Ayodhya.