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BJP MLA Mukut Bihari Verma has been facing outrages from oppositions and others over his controversial statement on Ayodhya Ram Mandir issues claiming that the "Supreme Court is ours". In no time his statement went viral and massive criticism was poured on him.
Uttar Pradesh's Cabinet Minister, Verma now tries to take a left-and-right turn in a move to clarify his statement to fetch himself out from the growing controversy.
Speaking to PTI on Monday, Verma, however, sought to clarify his statements. "By the word - ours - I meant the 125 crore people of the country. It was not a reference to the BJP or me," he said. The minister said he never said 'mera' (my) or 'meri sarkar' (my government). The 'ours' means all of us, he added.
Earlier, in a video clip, that had gone viral on the Internet, of Verma while speaking to reporters in Bahraich on Saturday said, "BJP came to power on the issue of development, but (Ram) temple is a matter of faith for us. The temple will be built. We are committed to building the (Ram) temple".
BJP has come to power on the issue of development but Ram Mandir will be constructed as it is our determination The matter is in Supreme Court and the SC is ours. The judiciary, administration, the nation as well as the Ram Temple belong to us: Mukut Bihari Verma, BJP MLA pic.twitter.com/jzrNpvreNd
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) September 8, 2018
When it was pointed out that the matter was pending in the Supreme Court, Verma, who is an MLA from Kaiserganj, said, "Supreme Court mein hai tabhi to... Supreme Court bhi hamara hi hai na. Supreme Court bhi hamara hi hai, nyay palika bhi, woh karya palika bhi hamari hai, vidhan palika bhi hamaari hai (Supreme Court is also ours. After all the Supreme Court is ours, judiciary, executive are ours and the legislature is also ours)".
Further clarifying on his statement he told PTI, "I was asked how will the Ram temple be built in Ayodhya since the matter is pending in the Supreme Court. I said the entire country is ours. The temple is ours, the judiciary is ours, the legislature is ours, the executive is ours. All these belong to the people."
First published: 11 September 2018, 11:23 IST