Mukut Bihari Verma, a Bharatiya Janata Party minister from Uttar Pradesh, sparked a controversy when he said that the Supreme Court belonged to the BJP. He made the comment after he was asked about the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, media reports said.
Speaking to reporters in Bahraich, Verma said that the BJP will fulfill its promise of building the temple at the site where the Babri Masjid once stood.
On being reminded by a reporter that the Supreme Court has yet to announce its verdict on the long-standing controversy, Verma said that his party will be able to keep its words on the construction of the temple since the matter was in Supreme Court, which he said belonged to the party.
"The matter is in Supreme Court that's why. Even the Supreme Court is our's, the judiciary is our's and the country is also our's and the temple is also our's.
"Supreme Court main hain tabhi toh! .. Supreme Court bhi toh hamara hi hai na, nyay palika bhi hamari hai .. vidhan palika bhi hamari hai .. yeh desh bhi hamara hai .. mandir bhi hamara hai," he said.
Opposition parties criticised his statements following which he told Hindustan Times that he has been quoted out of context. "I merely meant that the Supreme Court too is part of this country and belongs to us and that we are sure the temple will come up in Ayodhya," the daily quoted him as saying.
The Allahabad High Court had in 2010 ruled that the disputed land should be divided equally between the Sunni Waqf Board, the Nirmohi Akhara and the deity infant Ram, which is being represented by the Hindu Mahasabha. The Supreme Court is hearing appeals against the judgment.
Just a few days ago, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said that the temple will be built and the date of its construction will be decided by "Lord Ram" himself.
