BJP still committed to Ram temple at Ayodhya: Kalraj

Lucknow, Apr 11 (UNI) Asserting that Ayodhya issue continued to be on the BJP's agenda, senior party leader and MP Kalraj Mishra today said the BJP was committed to construct a ''grand Ram temple at Ayodhya.'' ''It is a wrong perception that the BJP has been trying to distance itself from the issue. instead the party is committed to convert make-shift temple into a grand temple at Ayodhya,'' he told reporters here.

However, Mr Mishra noted that for this the party required an absolute majority at the Centre and in the state as well.

''Presently, the BJP is posed well to gain absolute majority in the ongoing Uttar Pradesh assembly polls as a distinct wave is visible in its favour,'' he claimed.

The senior BJP leader sought to refute the claim of Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party that her party represented all castes. ''The BSP may have been assuming a political posture by giving tickets to upper caste candidates in UP assembly elections, but its earlier tirade against the upper caste is still fresh in public memory,' he said, claming the electorate of the state would never trust this party.

In reply to a question, the former UP BJP chief said the party would not forge post-poll alliance with any party to form the government as the BJP was set to constitute a majority government in Uttar Pradesh.

''UP people were fed up with the 'goonda raj' of the ruling Samajwadi Party in the state and they were looking up at the BJP for a welcome change,'' he said.

Mr Mishra, who is involved in the BJP election camapign in the state, said whereever he went, he could feel there was a clear mandate in party's favour.

UNI