BJP says Amit Shah didn't speak on Ram temple
New Delhi, July 14 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday denied that its President Amit Shah had made any statement in a Hyderabad meeting on Ram temple in Ayodhya even as AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned him for speaking on the sensitive issue that is being decided by the Supreme Court.
"Yesterday in Telangana, BJP President Amit Shah did not make any statement on the issue of Ram mandir as being claimed in certain sections of the media. No such matter was even on the agenda," the BJP said in a tweet.
The Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi dispute is in the Supreme Court.
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Owaisi on Saturday said it was better if the Ayodhya judgment came after the 2019 general elections as it would influence the election outcome.
In a tweet he questioned Shah's speech in Hyderabad, asking him if he was "going to write the judgment when the Supreme Court is deciding the title dispute and whether Masjid is essential feature of Islam".
"It is better if the...judgment (is) given after parliamentary elections for free and fair (polls)," Owaisi said.
Shah on Friday held a meeting of party leaders in Hyderabad after which BJP National Executive member Perala Sekharjee briefed the media about it.
Quoting Shah from the meeting, Sekharjee said that steps would be taken to clear the decks for launching construction of the temple before the polls.
"Considering the developments, I believe that construction of Ram temple will begin before the coming general elections," Sekharjee quoted Shah as saying.
The BJP had also released a statement in Telegu about Shah's meeting indicating he spoke about the Ram temple issue.
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U-19 Asia Cup: Suryavanshi disappoints as India lose to Pakistan by 43 runs
Dubai, Nov 30: Teen prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi's struggles against seam bowling was apparent during his brief stay as India U-19 comprising IPL contract owners struggled badly during their 43-run defeat to Pakistan in the Youth Asia Cup here on Saturday.
After muscular left-hander Shahzaib Khan thrashed Indian bowlers to submission with 10 sixes in his 159 off 147 balls, Indians were never in sight of victory target of 282.
They eventually got out for 238 in 47.1 overs but rising youngsters like Suryavanshi (1), Ayush Mhatre (20), C Andre Siddarth (15) and left-arm spinner Hardik Raj (0/47 in 6 overs) won't be amused with their performance.
However it must be mentioned that Mhatre with his touch and range looked a cut above the rest in the Indian team as he got out for 20 which had five boundaries.
The bulky left-hander Suryavanshi, who has had a very poor Ranji season, just got a solitary run as tall medium pacers Ali Raza and Abdul Subhan troubled him a lot.
Lot is expected of the Rajasthan Royals' Rs 1.10-crore signing but at 13 year and 8 months, he needs a lot of work to be even consistent at U-19 international level.
Subhan squared up Mhatre with a delivery that rose from length and moved a shade to take his outside edge, while Suryavanshi' feet didn't move when Raza slipped an angular fuller ball that he edged to the keeper.
The biggest disappointment turned out to be skipper Mohammed Amman, who dragged his way to 16 of 43 balls and his innings was one of the reasons that India U-19 couldn't really get the momentum once Mhatre was gone.
Nikhil Kumar's 67 was the only saving grace.
In the bowling department, India depended on their two spinners -- leg-spinner Mohammed Ennan (0/34 in 2 overs) and Raj, and both were taken to task by Shahzaib.
Especially Ennan, who either bowled half-trackers or over-pitched deliveries, all of which were dispatched into the stands.
In fact, Mhatre (2/30 in 7 overs) had to be brought in to cover for him and promptly got a couple of wickets, but Shahzaib had done enough damage and 280-plus was a winning total at the U-19 level.
Brief Scores
Pakistan U-19: 281/7; 50 overs (Shahzaib Khan 159; Samarth Nagraj 3/45, Ayush Mhatre 2/30)
India 238; 47.1 overs (Nikhil Kumar 67, Ayush Mhatre 20, C Andre Siddarth 15, Vaibhav Suryavanshi 1).
