Owning up the demolition of Babri mosque in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, Shiv Sena has asked the Narendra Modi government to bring a legislation for the construction of a temple at Ram Janmabhoomi Complex as the issue has been pending in court for over two decades and now the people are losing patience.

“People today are talking about the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya. This would not have been possible had Shiv Sainiks not demolished the disputed mosque on December 6, 1992,” Shiv Sena’s senior leader Sanjay Raut told media persons in Lucknow on Monday 

Raut said the Union government should bring a legislation for the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and the Shiv Sena would support it.

“Shiv Sena is committed to the construction of Ram temple. We have struggled for it. For us, Ram temple is not a ‘jumla’ as the Shiv Sena believes that Ram temple is not a subject of courts but of public sentiment and national honour,” the Shiv Sena leader said.

When asked how the Modi government could get a legislation passed when it does not have majority in the Rajya Sabha, Raut said that as the National Democratic Alliance had a majority in the Lok Sabha, it should get the legislation passed from there and then it could be analysed what could be done in the Rajya Sabha.

“It is up to Modi to bring a legislation and then the Yogi Adityanath government will have to ensure proper construction of Ram temple without hurting the sentiments of any section of society,” the Shiv Sena leader said but added that Ram temple should not be made an election issue.

Recently, Raut had visited Ayodhya where he had held discussions with several leaders on the construction of Ram temple.

“I also had a meeting with the plaintiff from the Muslim side, Iqbal Ansari, and had a very cordial meeting with him,” Raut said.   

The Shiv Sena leader said that his party chief Uddhav Thackeray would visit Ayodhya on November 24 and attend a programme at Lakshman Qila and also attend ‘Saryu aarti’. 

Uddhav would pay obeisance at Ram temple on November 25 and participate in a ‘jan samvad’ at Gulab Bari.

Thackeray was earlier scheduled to visit Ayodhya on November 25 but in view of the proposed dharma sabha of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, he preponed his visit.

Later on Monday, Raut called on Governor Ram Naik at the Raj Bhawan.