UP IPS officer ‘vows’ to build Ram temple

LUCKNOW:A senior Uttar Pradesh IPS officer has landed in controversy for allegedly taking a pledge for ‘the early construction of Ram temple’ in Ayodhya.

Director general (home guards), Surya Kumar Shukla, a 1982 batch officer, allegedly took the pledge at an event organised by Akhil Bharatiya Samagra Vichar Manch at a private event on the Lucknow University campus January 28. A video of the event that was widely shared on social media shows Shukla taking a pledge with others for the “early construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya” .

Shukla and others, are seen saying in the video: “Hum sab Ram-bhakt, aaj ke karyakram ke dauraan, yeh sankalp letey hain, ki jald se jald Ram mandir ka bhavya nirman ho (We all Ramdevotees, at this event, pledge for the early construction of Ram temple)”. The state home department has asked an explanation from Shukla, who is to retire next year.

Shukla admitted to have participated in the event and taking the pledge, but said his words were misinterpreted.

“It was an ‘intellectual gathering’ where people from Hindu and Muslim communities were present... The pledge was for the peaceful and harmonious solution of the problem,” Shukla said.

“There has been a misinterpretation. I had clearly said Ram Mandir issue is sub-judice, it won’t be appropriate to speak on it. The pledge was for communal harmony...,” he was quoted by news agencies as saying.

Distancing itself from the issue, the IPS Association said on Twitter: “We disassociate ourselves from the act of a senior #IPS officer as shown in the video & reiterate that it is against the ethos of neutrality, fairness and uprightness that Indian Police Service stands for.”