The RSS on Wednesday reiterated that the government should enact a law to acquire the disputed Ayodhya land for the construction of a Ram temple, just as Vallabhbhai Patel had rebuilt the Somnath temple in Gujarat.

It also urged the Centre to fulfil the “promise” made in 1994 by the then Congress government in the Supreme Court.

It said the Congress government had agreed at the time to side with Hindu sentiments if evidence were found of a pre-existing temple that was razed to build the Babri Masjid.

“The Ram temple is a matter of self-respect and pride. Like the way Sardar Patel had rebuilt the Somnath temple, the government should acquire the land and hand it over for the construction of a Ram temple. The government should enact a law for this,” RSS joint general secretary Manmohan Vaidya said.

Vaidya’s comments come two days after the Supreme Court declined to hear the Ayodhya land dispute immediately after Diwali, saying a bench would decide in January when hearing will start.

Chagrined, the RSS and outfits such as the VHP have been pressing the government for a law to clear the decks for the temple.