BJP chief hits out at SP, Congress over Ram Temple issue

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Nabin on Sunday (July 5, 2026) hit out at the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) over the Ram Temple issue, accusing them of having a history of insulting Sanatan Dharma and opposing the Ram Janmabhoomi movement.

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No individual or political party would be allowed to hurt the sentiments of devotees, Mr. Nabin said, addressing BJP workers in Lucknow.

“These political parties are the ones who doubted the existence of Lord Ram, submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court, describing Lord Ram as a fictional character, questioned the existence of Ram Setu, and authorised the firing on kar sevaks. Those who are now speaking about faith had previously resisted the Ram Temple movement. I wish to make this unequivocally clear today… Even if it requires the shedding of our blood, we will not permit anyone to alter the faith associated with Lord Ram’s temple. We stand ready to make any sacrifice for it,” said Mr. Nabin.

The BJP president, without explicitly referring to the recent allegations of financial irregularities at the Ram Temple, said the government and authorities concerned would act wherever required, but asserted that parties that had “humiliated the Sanatan Dharma” had no moral standing or authority to question the temple.

“We will take appropriate measures and rectify shortcomings wherever required. But the anti-Hindu forces, who always humiliate Hindu gods and goddesses and play with our faith, have no moral right to preach politics to us. Rahul Gandhi Ji, Akhilesh Yadav Ji, never think the Hindu society is so weak that it will fall into your trap or act according to your dictates. You are the same people who remained silent wherever Hindu deities were insulted. We saw your silence when questions were raised over Hindu worship practices in Tamil Nadu and when the Ramcharitmanas was insulted in Bihar,” added the BJP president.

Recalling the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Mr. Nabin said his father had participated as a kar sevak and had spent two months in jail.

“My father came from Patliputra to participate as a kar sevak and spent two months in jail. We did not know whether he would return home safely. Today, you question our faith? We have made numerous sacrifices and faced significant hardships. Can your family ever match that? Your legacy is characterised by violence and attacks on Hindus, whereas ours is defined by our sacrifices to safeguard the faith of our deities,” he said, addressing the BJP’s Shakti Kendra convenors’ conference.

The conference was attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, BJP State president Pankaj Chaudhary and other senior party leaders. 

Mr. Nabin urged party workers to leave no stone unturned to ensure another victory for the party in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

“You are the backbone of the party. We must today take the pledge that each of us will work tirelessly, so that the BJP’s lotus will bloom once again in Uttar Pradesh,” said the BJP chief. He also praised the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh for initiating welfare measures and “ending lawlessness in the State”.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Nabin met leaders of the NDA’s allies in Uttar Pradesh. “Under the guidance of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and leadership of Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath ji, we are fully committed to achieving the goal of a ‘Developed India’ by 2047 through coordination, trust and public service,” he said.

The BJP chief, who is on a two-day visit to Lucknow, visited Rashtriya Prerna Sthal and paid homage to Jan Sangh leaders Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Mr. Nabin, a Rajya Sabha MP, also held a meeting with former U.P. BJP presidents in the presence of State party chief Pankaj Chaudhary.