Ayodhya verdict in our favour as BJP is in power: Gujarat MP
Bharuch, Nov 15: Mansukh Vasava, BJP MP of Bharuch in Gujarat, on Thursday claimed Supreme Court gave a verdict "in our favour" on the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute in Ayodhya because a BJP government is at the Centre.
It drew condemnation from the Congress which demanded an apology and accused the MP of "fanning communal tension".
Vasava, however, later claimed he was only pointing to how the BJP government (at the Centre) was able to maintain law and order after the SC verdict was delivered on November 9.
The Supreme Court in a unanimous verdict cleared the way for the construction of a Ram Temple at the disputed site at Ayodhya, and directed the Centre to allot a 5-acre plot to the Sunni Waqf Board for building a mosque.
Addressing a gathering of BJP workers in Bharuch town on Thursday evening, Vasava said, "The Ram Janmabhoomi issue was quite old. So many years went by. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement was going on even before India got independence. So many people were martyred and many took part in the movement (to build a Ram Temple at the disputed site)."
"The Supreme Court had to give a judgement in our favour because the BJP government is at the Centre," Vasava said at the gathering.
On Friday, a video of the MP's speech went viral on social media platforms.
Hitting out, Bharuch Congress president Parimal Singh Rana demanded Vasava's apology.
"By claiming the verdict was given just because BJP is in power, was Vasava trying to fan communal tension? We condemn his remarks and seek his apology," Rana told reporters.
Later, on Friday, Vasava tried to play down the issue saying he was only referring to the way in which the BJP government handled law and order after the verdict.
"You can imagine what would have been situation if BJP was not ruling in Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre. Violence might have erupted at many places. But, since the BJP is in power, no such thing happened. Thanks to the BJP government, peaceful atmosphere prevailed after the verdict," Vasava said.
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RCB beat MI by 18 runs after batters fire
Mumbai (PTI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt and Virat Kohli blasted half-centuries as the defending champions beat Mumbai Indians by 18 runs in an Indian Premier League match here on Sunday.
Salt (78 off 36 balls) and Kohli (50 off 38 balls) stitched together a 120-run stand for the opening wicket before Patidar scored a rapid 53 off just 20 balls as RCB posted 240 for 4.
In response, Mumbai Indians were restricted to 222 for 5, with RCB spinner Suyash Sharma (2/47) putting the skids on the home side with a double strike in the eighth over, from which they could not recover.
Sherfane Rutherford top-scored for MI with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls.
While opener Rohit Sharma appeared to be struggling with a hamstring issue and had to retire hurt on 19, his partner Ryan Rickelton made 37, while Suryakumar Yadav (33) and Hardik Pandya (40) were the other contributors for MI.
Brief scores:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru 240 for 4 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 78, Virat Kohli 50, Rajat Patidar 53, Tim David 35 not out).
Mumbai Indians: 222 for 5 in 20 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 71 not out, Ryan Rickelton 37, Hardik Pandya 40; Suyash Sharma 2/47).
