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Ram temple is on BJP's, not government's agenda, says Thakre

Bharatiya Janata Party president Kushabhau Thakre today reiterated that construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya was part of the BJP's agenda and not of the national agenda for governance agreed upon by partners of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

Addressing a meet-the-press programme of the Ernakulam Press Club, he said issues like Ram Mandir, scrapping of Article 370, and evolving a common civil code which were dear to the BJP, were kept out of the national agenda.

This was because the BJP felt that forcing another election by refusing to form the government after having emerged as the single largest party, with no other alternative available, would not be tolerated by the people, he added.

Each party in the coalition, which had fought the election on its own manifesto, had to keep out one issue or the other to provide a functional government, he said.

Replying to a question, Thakre said as and when the BJP came to power on its own, the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya would certainly be considered.

Expressing satisfaction over the performance of the Vajpayee government, Thakre said pressures from coalition parties were natural, but it did not affect the vital decision-making process as the present coalition was led by the major partner unlike the previous United Front government in which major parties kept out of the government, thereby rendering the government ineffective and decision-shy.

He said the decision on conducting the nuclear tests itself was an indication that the present government was capable of taking vital decisions of national importance without succumbing to pressures from other countries.

Thakre said the impact of the sanctions imposed by major powers would be nullified by effective internal measures.

UNI

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