Building Ram Temple still on BJP's agenda, says Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot

New Delhi: Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot has said that building Ram temple is still on BJP's agenda and the party has not left it.

"Ram temple is still BJP's issue and the party has not left it. When there is blessing of Lord Ram then his temple will also get constructed," Gehlot said while denying that BJP has taken U-turn on the issue.

"As of now we are waiting for the verdict of the Supreme Court on the issue," the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment added.

Hitting out at Congress, Gehlot said the party which prevented Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar from entering Lok Sabha was now staking claim on him.

"Ambedkar belongs to all people. Rahul and Sonia Gandhi are staking their claims, which is not right. Congress always insulted him and did not allow him to enter Parliament by fielding its candidate against him," he said.

A national institute at a cost of Rs 100 crore would be developed at 26 Ali Road in Delhi where Ambedkar lived between 1951 to 1956, the Union Minister said.

Also Maharashtra and Union government would purchase the place in London where Ambedkar stayed during his student year in 1921-22, he said, adding every year a visit to that place would be organised for 100 students.

Gehlot said that a coin would soon be issued by the Central government to commemorate Ambedkar's 125th birth anniversary.

Meanwhile, a Union social justice and empowerment ministry statement said that Gehlot inaugurated a camp for free of cost distribution of assistive aids and appliances to persons with disabilities at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh today.

A total of 1,191 Persons with different kinds of disabilities were provided with high quality aids and assistive devices valuing more than Rs 86 lakh under the ADIP scheme of the Ministry.

The beneficiaries were pre-identified during the assessment camps conducted in various phases in Ballia district, the statement added.

The camp was organized by Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), Kanpur, functioning under the Department Of Empowerment Of Persons With Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in close association with district administration Ballia.