BJP allies put temple plan on backburner

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New Delhi: Several Hindus will wake up at the crack of dawn this Saturday, five days ahead of India’s general election, and march to nearby temples to chant a sacred hymn and renew a pledge to build a Ram temple on the ruins of the 16th-century Babri mosque.
Hardline Hindu allies of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) say they will mobilise more than 10 million people for April 6 – the start of the Hindu New Year – to shore up support for the contentious plan to build the temple in Ayodhya.
But while the event will keep the focus on a core demand of Hindu nationalists, it will not overtly be part of the BJP’s election campaign, signalling a softer approach by the ruling party, multiple sources familiar with discussions said.
The commitment to construct a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya has been part of the BJP’s election manifesto since the 1990s and has helped the party garner Hindu votes in elections since then.
However, the BJP and its allies are concerned that focusing on the temple issue could be too hot to handle, especially since it is now the party in power. It could worsen communal tensions and trigger religious riots in the country, said a senior BJP leader.
“We cannot underestimate the power of Hindu fringe groups, and it’s best not to ignite these issues,” said a BJP leader who is overseeing the party’s election strategy.