Hyderabad: During the Ayodhya movement, a leader emerged on the national scene who not only gave a new identity to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but also instilled the party with new strength and enthusiasm.
While leaders like LK Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti, Vinay Katiyar led the Ayodhya movement, Kalyan Singh, born in Aligarh, was also preparing political ground for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
After joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, he reached Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly for the first time in 1967 by winning the Atrauli assembly elections, after which he did not look back.
Singh was also instrumental in the formation of a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for the first time.
How does Kalyan Singh, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, remember his role today, when the 'bhoomi pujan' of Ram temple is all set to be held in Ayodhya on August 5.
Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh said that now that the temple is going to be built and he is in the last phase of his life, there are no regrets in life to fret about.
It is well known that after the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, Singh not only had to sacrifice his government but he was also accused that of not fulfilling his duties as the premier of the state.
Read: News channels must take permission to hold programmes in Ayodhya district on Aug 5: Administration
Singh also had to spend a day in Tihar Jail and paid the fine of Rs 2000 but he said that he gladly complied as he had finally served Lord Ram.
Singh also said that there are some things that will go into the pages of history, such as the demolition of the mosque in 1528 and the opportunity to build a temple after 500 years.
After all, why did Singh not prevent the kar sevaks from demolishing the mosque, while defending himself on the issue, Singh said that the report presented to me by the district administration stated that four battalions of the Central Security Force were deployed that day.
"It was also reported that on December 6, 1992, more than 3 lakh kar sevaks had reached the city of Ayodhya. There was no option left but to shoot them from bringing down the mosque, then I ordered not to open fire on them. I was not in favour of a massacre. One cannot even guess how many of them would have died in case of firing had taken place. The whole country would have flared up in violence," Singh said.
"So today when questions are raised about my role, I say, I had no regrets back then nor do I have now that I did not order to open fire at the kar sewaks," he added.
He further said that with the collapse of the structure, it prepared the background for the construction of Ram temple.
"I had neither regretted the fall of the government then nor do I regret today. Today, not only my desire but the aspirations of crores of people of the country have been fulfilled. Now that the Ram temple is being built, I want that along with the Ram temple, the Rashtra Mandir should also be constructed.
The economic condition of the country should also improve and a stronger India should be reinforced, he added.
Also Read: Ram Mandir 'Bhoomi Pujan': All you need to know about the ceremony
