BJP MLA: Supreme Court ours, Ram Mandir will be built
What's the story
In an incident that would mortify believers of democracy, Uttar Pradesh minister Mukut Bihari Verma, on Saturday, said that the Ram Mandir will be built in Ayodhya because the 'Supreme Court is ours'.
The BJP leader's comment sparked controversy and invited harsh criticism from the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, who accused the party of trying to polarize the country.
Here are the details.
Details
The incident took place during a press conference in Bahraich
Verma's comments came while he was talking to journalists in Bahraich.
The minister first confidently said that the Ram Mandir would be built.
However, after journalists reminded him that the issue was pending in the Supreme Court, Verma said that the apex court was 'ours', presumably referring to the ruling party.
Verma is the minister for cooperatives, and is a four-time BJP MLA.
Quote
Verma: Supreme Court bhi hamara hai!
"Supreme Court main hain tabhi toh! .. Supreme Court bhi toh hamara hi hai na, Supreme Court bhi hamara hai ... nyay palika bhi hamari hai .. Vidhan Palika bhi hamari hai .. yeh desh bhi hamara hai .. mandir bhi hamara hai," said Verma.
Clarification
Even while clarifying, Verma repeated the same thing
After Verma's comments started being circulated on media and social media, the minister called the Hindustan Times to say that that he was being quoted out of context. However, he repeated the same thing again.
Understandably, Opposition parties said that they thought Verma's comments were a deliberate attempt to polarize the Indian population ahead of the upcoming 2019 general elections.
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Verma ends up repeating the same thing
"Humne kya galat kaha ki Supreme Court bhi hamara hai ... arrey bhai hamara toh sabhi kuchh hai ... jab yeh desh hamara hai toh sabhi kuchh hamara hi hai na," Verma told HT.
Reactions
Congress, SP livid with the BJP
Interestingly, UP's Labor Minister, Swami Prasad Maurya, was also with Verma during the incident, but refused to comment on the Ram Mandir issue.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress slammed the BJP for their arrogance and their comments on the judiciary, which forms one of the most important pillars of Indian democracy.
Tariq Siddiqui of the Samajwadi Party demanded an apology.
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Congress: BJP doesn't respect constitutional bodies
"The remark is dangerous and shows the growing arrogance of BJP ministers and their total lack of respect for constitutional bodies," said Congress leader Devendra Pratap Singh.