Cong's Digvijaya champions Sharad Pawar's 'Ram Mandir not Covid cure' view; Swamy opposes

Backing NCP chief Sharad Pawar's statement on Ram Mandir, Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Monday said that Pawar is "absolutely right" and he fully agrees with him. Rajya Sabha MP added that he wished PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah would have listened to NCP leader and maybe situation of country "would have been better today"

'You are absolutely right'

Digvijaya shared an article's link about Sharad Pawar's remarks along with a tweet in Hindi which read, "You are absolutely right, Mr Pawar. This (t stated) would t be situation of country if Modi-Shah had followed your path."

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that some people think that coronavirus would be eradicated by building a temple. Pawar's comments came after PM Modi's Ayodhya visit on August 5 for "bhoomi pujan" ceremony of Ram Temple was finalised.

Sharad Pawar on PM's Ayodhya visit

Addressing a press conference in Solapur, he said, "We are all thinking of how to fight battle against Coronavirus but some people think that Coronavirus will be mitigated by building a temple. But our priority is to see how to improve ecomy which has been affected due to lockdown."

" lockdown has created an ecomic crisis and we want to request State and Central government to pay attention to issue," added Pawar. 

Top BJP sources told Republic TV that senior party leader Lal Krishna Advani is likely to accompany Prime Minister for ceremony. In late 1980s, BJP veteran leader became political face of Ram Janmabhoomi movement, giving it heft and wide publicity.  party included Ram temple issue in its manifesto in 1989 under presidentship of Advani.

READ | PM Modi finalises August 5 date for Ram Mandir's foundation stone-laying in Ayodhya

READ | LK Advani likely to go with PM Modi to Ayodhya; Ram Mandir foundation stone a silver brick

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy on Monday slammed Pawar by terming his comments as "ridiculous" and demanded an apology from veteran politician.  

'Filling vacuum'

Dr Swamy said that Prime Minister Modi "won't care" what Pawar says but to people of India, Pawar must apologise as ir "feelings have been hurt." 

"NCP and Congress are harming mselves by making such comments. Earlier, such comments were made by Mani Shankar Aiyar but w he is silent and seems like Sharad Pawar is filling vacuum," senior BJP leader said.

READ | Sharad Pawar on PM Modi's Ayodhya visit: 'Some feel building temple helps in COVID fight'

READ | Subramanian Swamy hammers Sharad Pawar's 'Ram Mandir won't cure Covid' logic; argues back