Ayodhya row: Congress, BSP, JD(U) accuse BJP, RSS of trying to divide UP

New Delhi: The Ayodhya temple row on Wednesday rocked the Rajya Sabha with Congress, BSP and JD (U) accusing the BJP and RSS of trying to divide Uttar Pradesh on communal lines ahead of the 2017 assembly elections in the state, a charge rejected by the ruling party at the Centre.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, K C Tyagi (JD-U) said the circumstances for a communally-charged atmosphere are being created ahead of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. Opposition members voiced concern over reports of two truck loads of stones for construction of the temple having arrived in Ayodhya earlier this week.

Such activities are being planned "only to charge up the atmosphere," he said, quoting a reported statement by Mahant Nritya Gopal Das that there was a "signal" from the Modi government that the temple will be built "now".

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said stone carving for construction of the temple has been going at a site 1.5 km away from the disputed site since 1990. The government and the BJP are of the view that the court decision on the dispute should be accepted, he said.

There was no ban on carving of stones and the religious leaders quoted have been living in Ayodhya, he said, adding that stone carving does not mean that the temple was being built. "Please wait for court decision. All of us should respect it," he said.

Outside Parliament, BSP supremo Mayawati told reporters that "this has been the agenda of BJP and RSS for a long time. But the Government of India should apply brakes on such people."

But more than BJP, she used the opportunity to slam her arch rival, the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, saying if the Supreme Court order to maintain status quo on the site is violated, then the "SP will be responsible as the ruling party."

The former Uttar Pradesh CM said it is the responsibility of the ruling party in the state to ensure that the SC directions are not violated. "In such a scenario, nothing wrong should be allowed to take place," she said.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Uttar Pradesh Pramod Tiwari claimed that BJP and its affiliates rake up such issues before every assembly election, especially in UP. "Be it shila pujan or rath yatra, BJP tries to draw a communal divide before every assembly election, especially in Uttar Pradesh.

JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said though BJP tries to divide people on communal lines every time, "this time the people have understood their design". "They divide people on communal lines before elections. But this time the people have understood their design. Like we did in Bihar, we would counter them in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

BJP MP from Gorakhpur in UP Adityanath rejected the charge that the party was raking up the temple issue again. Adityanath said stones are being carved in workshops of Ayodhya and Rajasthan since 1990.

"This is not for the first time that stones have arrived in Ayodhya. Those who have not been to Ayodhya say such things."

He also blamed the ruling Samajwadi Party in UP for raking up the issue to "divert people's attention from issues like corruption and scams during their rule."

"The Supreme Court has rapped the state government over Lokayukta. There have been scams, it is a government of loot, murder and rape. Therefore, they are diverting people's attention," he said.

In the Rajya Sabha, the opposition members stormed the Well shouting slogans like "UP Mein Dange Ki Saazish Band Karo (Stop conspiracy to incite communal violence)."

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there was no confusion after Naqvi's statement that the government and party will go by the court verdict.

"Why do you disturb the Zero Hour? Why do you agitate? The Minister has made it clear that the government will go by the court decision. It is unnecessary. Go back," he told to the agitating members.

But none heeded to his pleas, forcing him to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.