UP CM sacks SP leader for temple remark

UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday sacked his designated minister Ompal Nehra after the latter said that Muslims must give up their claims on mosques in Ayodhya, Mathura and Kashi and help build temples there. The minister-rank leader had made this comment at a function in Bijnore on Thursday evening.

Mr Nehra was adviser in entertainment tax department of the state government and enjoyed the status of minister of state.

Mr Nehra had said, “Where can a Ram temple be built if not in Ayodhya Muslims should help in building a Ram temple in Ayodhya and a Krishna temple in Mathura and give up their claim on mosques there. In fact, I would say that Muslims should join Kar Seva (volunteer service) for the Ram temple.”

The leader was apparently referring to the controversy over the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) bringing truckloads of stones for a temple at the site in Ayodhya where the 16th century Babri mosque was razed by Hindu activists on December 6, 1992.

After being sacked, Mr Nehra said he stood by his statement.“What I said was that Muslim brothers should do kar seva in constructing temples in Ayodhya and Mathura and Hindu brothers help them in constructing mosques one or two km away from the original site. It is my belief that temples should be constructed in both the places (Ayodhya and Mathura),” he told reporters. Mr Nehra is the first minister-rank leader in the Akhilesh Yadav government to be sacked for a statement on the Ram temple issue.