BJP MLA Raja Singh threatens to behead those opposing Ram Temple

NEW DELHI: In what may spark a fresh controversy, BJP MLA from Hyderabad Raja Singh has said that he would behead the ones opposing the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. "Some people are saying that they will create ruckus if Ram Mandir is built in Ayodhya. I welcome the ones who are warning of dire consequences. We have been waiting for years to behead such traitors," the MLA said while addressing a public gathering on Thursday in Hyderabad. Singh, who represents Goshamal constituency in the Hyderabad Assembly, is known for his right wing activities and has also been arrested multiple times. Earlier, the Supreme Court had observed that Ayodhya dispute is a "sensitive" and "sentimental" issue, adding that the matter should be settled amicably. Since then, various right-wing leaders have been campaigning for the temple to be built. His remarks came a day after Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said Ram temple in Ayodhya was a matter of belief for her and she was ready to go to jail for it. "Ram temple is a matter of belief for me and I have immense pride in it...if I have to go to jail for it I will go, if I have to hang myself for it I will do it," the firebrand BJP leader, who was part of Ram temple movement, told newspersons after meeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday. Asked if the issue of Ram temple construction in Ayodhya figured in the talks with Adityanath, she said, "We don't need to talk about Ram temple...we (Uma and Yogi) are not strangers on this issue... Yogiji's guru Mahant Avaidnath was the leader of the temple movement." The Union minister said that since the matter is pending in the Supreme Court she would refrain from speaking much on it but pointed out that the apex court has noted that the matter could be resolved outside the court. The Supreme Court had recently reserved its order on a petition seeking restoration of conspiracy charges against Bharti and other senior BJP leaders, including L K Advani and MM Joshi, in the Babri Masjid demolition case.