New Delhi: The Ram Mandir issue made an entry in the Gujarat election campaign on Tuesday with BJP president Amit Shah asking the Congress to clarify its stand on its leader Kapil Sibal’s appeal in the Supreme Court to defer Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute till the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Mr. Sibal was representing the Sunni Waqf board in the court.
“Today a surprising stand was taken in the Supreme Court by Congress leader and Sunni Waqf Board lawyer Kapil Sibal ji . He said hearing should be deferred till after the 2019 polls. The Congress should clear its stand on this,” Mr. Shah said.
He also asked Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to express his view on the matter. “Rahul ji is visiting temples in Gujarat but on the other hand Kapil Sibal is being used to delay the Ram Janmabhoomi case. Rahul ji should tell us what his view is on this,” he said.
Hitting back at the BJP in an impromptu press conference, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala distanced the party from Mr. Sibal’s arguments on Tuesday in the Supreme Court.
“Who he represents in court is Kapil Sibal’s personal matter, the Congress has nothing to do with it. Arun Jaitley was the lawyer in the Bhopal gas tragedy case, does that mean the whole of BJP is to be blamed?” he asked.
“The Congress stand has always been clear, that the Ayodhya case should be decided by the Supreme Court,” Mr. Surjewala added.
