Pune: The eloquent "Pradhan Sevak" Narendra Modiji, instead of commenting on the achievements of his 10 years of development work in the Mumbai rally today, appeared bent only on taking credit for the achievement of Ram Mandir. Keeping in mind the real history of independence, the credit for the construction of Ram Mandir should also be given to the Congress which built a Republic India, said Gopaldada Tiwari, State Spokesperson of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress today.

Mr Tiwari said that, taking political credit for the Supreme Court's Ram Janmabhoomi decision, the PM repeatedly patted himself for building the Ram temple which was pending for 500 years but forgot that, out of 500 years, India was under the slavery of the British for 150 years and the remaining 250 years were divided under the Monarchy/Mughalshahi. When the war of independence started, they wanted to free India from the slavery of the British but were not able to do anything, he said

When Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru, Abdul Ghafar Khan, Azad, Subashchandra Bose etc. led the freedom struggle, they went to jail many times. "In the 15 decisive years from 1932 to 1942, from the Quit India Movement to 1947, a nationwide movement was carried out on the strength of struggles like burning of foreign goods, non-cooperation movement, civil disobedience, Salt Satyagraha etc..The Britishers were forced to leave India. Were were BJP or RSS leaders then?," he asked

"Along with freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh and Rajguru, hundreds of martyrs made sacrifices.. and on 15 August 1947, India became independent.. India, divided among its kings and subjects, became “Democratic India”.. Its own Constitution was made.. 'Justice' was established," he said.

Mr Tiwari further said that “Democratic independent India” was established with the fundamental contribution of Congress. "During the same tenure of independent India, the 'Supreme Court' gave the decision on the disputed place of Ram Janmabhoomi and also gave the decision and instructions to form 'Ram Mandir Trust'. Modiji or BJP were neither applicants nor petitioners in the court.

Therefore, the credit for the construction of Ram Mandir belongs only to the Supreme Court and not to Modi or BJP at all said," Mr Tiwari said.

Mr Tiwari further said that despite the court order, the structure as demolished at the disputed site. "In 1992, during the tenure of Congress Prime Minister Narasimha Rao, some acres of land was acquired in Ayodhya to resolve the Ram Mandir issue, on which the temple was built today. But it was not built where it was wanted."

Mr Tiwari said in an effort to reach a compromise through the court, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had also advocated for the temple issue to be settled through negotiations. "Even then this was the option, at that time some people did not agree. But later the Supreme Court resolved the matter by delivering a verdict in the matte.r The Babri Masjid Trust was ordered to givea few acres of land to build the mosque. This is the truth," he said.

"That's why the PM should not take full credit for the construction of the temple," said Mr Tiwari.