Amit Shah says BJP wants Ram temple at the earliest, accuses Congress of hurdles

BJP president Amit Shah said on Friday that his party wants a Ram temple built in Ayodhya as soon as possible, and accused the Congress of putting obstacles in the way of resolving the dispute. He was speaking at the party’s national convention at Ramlila Maidan.

What Shah said

The remarks, part of his opening address, drew the loudest response from the thousands of party members present. “Let there be no doubt,” Shah said, after stating that the BJP wanted the temple at the same site in Ayodhya.

He said the party was doing everything it could to see the matter settled quickly in the Supreme Court, which was hearing the title case and had set January 29 as the next hearing date. Shah asked the Congress to make its position clear and said the BJP wanted a constitutional resolution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders attended the convention. Party sources suggested the stand could have an impact on the 2019 election.

Background

Hindutva organisations, including the RSS, had repeatedly voiced frustration over the delay in the case and called on the Modi government to pass legislation clearing the way for building the temple at the site, regarded as the birthplace of Lord Ram.

What happened next

The Supreme Court delivered its Ayodhya judgment on 9 November 2019, and the Ram temple in Ayodhya was consecrated on 22 January 2024.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party · Political leaders

Originally published on 11 January 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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