Cong wants a ‘grand temple’ in Ayodhya: Sachin Pilot

Jaipur, Nov 22: The Congress wants a "grand temple" to be built in Ayodhya, Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said on Friday, days after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the construction of the shrine in the Hindu holy town.

He also said the court’s decision was acceptable to all and people should now stop doing politics on the issue.

In its verdict announced on November 9, the Supreme Court backed the construction of a Ram temple by a trust at the disputed site in Ayodhya, and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot be allotted for building a mosque in the town.

“Everyone has welcomed the decision and the Congress party wants a grand temple be built there (Ayodhya)," Pilot told reporters in Dausa district.

“We have to happily respect and maintain that decision. Now we have to stop doing politics on this issue; the world is moving forward,” he said. People who had been doing politics over the case for the past 30 years understand now that no one will benefit politically by raising the issue again and again, he added.

Speaking about the Congress’ performance in the recent civic body polls in Rajasthan and Assembly elections in some states, he said there is a change in the country’s atmosphere.

“(Congress’) performance reflects that the people have liked the government’s work. State Assembly results in Haryana and the alliance government taking shape in Maharashtra reflect that the atmosphere in the country is changing," he said. "The way we have worked in Rajasthan, I am happy to say that the Congress organisation worked as hard and with as much preparedness as it did when it was in the opposition," the deputy CM said.