‘Courts and Constitution to decide’: JP Nadda says no BJP resolution on Kashi and Mathura

In its first official statement on the ongoing Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque dispute, the BJP on Monday said that such issues would be settled in accordance with the Constitution and decided by the courts. 

Underlining the BJP’s commitment to cultural development of the country, party president J P Nadda said that contentious religious matters would be decided by “courts and the Constitution” and the party would implement the decisions in letter and spirit. 

He said the BJP had passed a resolution on the Ram Janmabhoomi issue during its national executive meeting in Palampur. “After that there has been no resolution,” he added. Nadda was responding to questions on whether reclaiming the temples at Kashi and Mathura were on the agenda of the BJP.

Reiterating the BJP’s slogan of “sabka sath, sabka vikas”, Nadda said the party wants to take everyone along with the aim of building a strong nation.

Following the Palampur resolution of June 1989, the BJP had taken up the Ram Janmabhoomi movement — which had been carried out by the VHP until then — as part of its political agenda. Veteran party leader L K Advani had announced a Rath Yatra to ensure that “a temple is constructed at the birthplace of Lord Ram”. 

Asked about the Gyanvyapi mosque issue, Nadda told the press conference that the BJP has always worked for the cultural development of the country. “…we have always talked about the cultural development of the country. But these issues will be decided by courts and the Constitution…and the BJP will implement it in letter and spirit,” Nadda said.

Lower courts are currently hearing multiple petitions on the disputes related to the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and the Krishna temple adjacent to the Shahi Masjid Idgah in Mathura.

Asked about the party not fielding any Muslim candidate in the recent assembly polls and the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, he said the BJP has not announced candidates for all Rajya Sabha seats yet.

“When we work politically, it is our endeavour to take everyone along. We have to be ready for it. We are ready for it,” Nadda said, referring to the BJP’s slogan of “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”.

“There are many types of people in a society. Some respond earlier, some later, some after decades and some respond after much time has passed. It depends on them. But this is clear and everyone will have an equal share,” he said.

On a question about several BJP-ruled states announcing implementation of a Uniform Civil Code, Nadda said the party has always worked on the principle of justice to all and appeasement of none.

“It is okay. They (states) are discussing it. As far as we are concerned, we have been saying that everyone must be treated equally. Our broad outline is justice to all, appeasement of none. This is our basic principle, we are working in accordance with it,” the BJP president said.