BJP firm on Ram Temple issue: Murli Manohar Joshi

Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, Feb 4 (UNI) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has reiterated that his partys commitment to Ram temple issue.

Addressing a press conference after visiting the Sai Baba temple at Shirdi yesterday, Mr Joshi said, ''Hindutva and Ram Mandir are apolitical issues of national importance. Therefore, there should be no difference in opinion on these issues among other political parties.'' During the next general and various assembly elections, the Ram Temple issue will feature dominantly on the BJP's agenda, Mr Joshi said.

Meanwhile, referring to the Indo-Pakistan relations, Mr Joshi said the neighbouring nation's motives were suspected and, yet, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was too optimistic about furthering the relations.

To a question, Mr Joshi said the BJP believed in collective leadership and Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee is the most accepted leader in the party. ''There is no discord between the BJP and National Democratic Alliance on the leadership issue,'' Mr Joshi emphasised.

There is a good coordination between Mr Vajpayee, Mr Lal Krishna Advani who is the Leader of the Opposition, and BJP president Rajnath Singh, Mr Joshi stressed.

Asked about former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh's suggestion that Ms Uma Bharati be re-inducted into the party, Mr Joshi remarked that it was Mr Singh's personal opinion.

Mr Joshi claimed that the BJP will regain power on its own in Uttar Pradesh as the performance of the Mulayam Singh-led Samajwadi Party Govrnment in that state has been poor and the law and order situation there has deteriorated. He hoped that the party will come to power in Punjab also.

UNI