M A I N   N E W S

People want Ram temple, says Advani

Ahmedabad, February 8
Kicking off the BJP’s election campaign for the Lok Sabha poll in Gujarat, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today sought a fresh mandate for the NDA at the Centre to fulfil its unfinished tasks which included building a Ram temple with the consent of Hindus and Muslims and ensuring the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.

“We have much more to do for the people and one such demand by crores of Indians is that the Ram temple must come up at Ram Janmabhoomi...which will happen...and that too with the consent of both parties,” Mr Advani, who is on a two-day visit to the state, said addressing a gathering at the Chandlodia area of the city.

Mr Advani quoted Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s appeal at Ayodhya yesterday where he had said: “Give us five more years as we have much unfinished work to do for the people that includes the construction of the Ram Mandir.”

The Deputy Prime Minister said another important issue for the NDA when it returned to power would be to “ensure the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the valley.”

“It is important for the Kashmiri Pandits to go back to live in the valley in a conducive atmosphere and that is one of the important things in our agenda,” Mr Advani said.

During his whirlwind trip to seven different Assembly seats in the city that are part of his parliamentary seat, to open health melas, the Deputy Prime Minister urged the people to reflect on the NDA’s performance during the five years.

“Between 1988 to 1998, the nation had 10 Prime Ministers of various governments....while, in the past five years, the nation has only one. And this itself reflects what the people want,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Projecting Mr Vajpayee as the leader of the nation, Mr Advani said “the chant around the nation is Chauthi Baari Atal Bihari (fourth time for Atal Bihari).”

Referring to the “feel good factor” the Deputy Prime Minister said “the feel good factor across the country has compelled me to come to the people of Gujarat so that the ruling NDA can once again come to power to serve you.”

Setting at rest speculation on the Lok Sabha seat he would contest from, Mr Advani said he “would once again contest from Gujarat capital Gandhinagar.” — PTI