Former Union Minister P Chidambaram took a jibe at the Modi government on Monday in a tweet amid the rising chorus for a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Chidambaram, a former Finance and Home minister under the UPA I and II regimes, compared the Modi government’s 2014 pitch for development to “new promise” of “temples, statues and doles”.
“At the beginning of five years, the promise is for Development, Jobs and Money in every citizen’s bank account,” wrote the 73-year-old senior Congress leader.
“Nothing achieved, at the end of five years, the new promise is for grand Temples, giant Statues and Doles,” Chidambaram said.
At the beginning of five years, the promise is for Development, Jobs and Money in every citizen’s bank account. Nothing achieved, at the end of five years, the new promise is for grand Temples, giant Statues and Doles
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 5, 2018
His tweet referred to the rising clamour from a section of the political spectrum for a grand statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya and a temple at the disputed site in the city.
Only yesterday, Union minister Giriraj Singh asserted that “no power in the world can stop construction of Ram temple because people’s patience is running out for it”.
Read More: Nothing can stop Ram temple construction: Union minister Giriraj Singh
On Saturday, yoga guru Baba Ramdev, joined the calls for a legislation if the Supreme Court did not deliver a verdict soon during a two-day Patanjali conference in Haridwar.
The yoga guru told reporters that there are sections who may not like the idea of a legislation but no one opposes Ram in India.
“Ayodhya mein Ram Mandir nahin banega toh aur kya banega (What else will be built in Ayodhya if not a Ram temple?),” Ramdev questioned.
Read More: Baba Ramdev says those with more than two children should not have voting rights
On 29 October, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing of the Ayodhya land dispute case saying that “appropriate bench” will decide in January when to hear the politically-sensitive case.
Chidambaram’s comment comes days after reports stated that Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is planning to construct a 151-metre tall Lord Ram statue in Ayodhya.
According to Hindustan Times, state government officials said that some firms shortlisted for the design of the statue have given presentation to the CM.
The report quoted the official saying that the platform of the statue be 50 metres, making the overall height of the structure 201 metres. The recently-inaugurated Statue of Unity – a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – stands at 182 metres making it the tallest statue in the world.