Congress backs Rahul Gandhi's comments on Ayodhya

Congress today backed the statement of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi that there are more important issues in the country than Ayodhya, saying it reflected the aspirations of a large section of the youth.

"He (Gandhi) contextualised the Ayodhya dispute. His statement reflected the aspirations of a large section of the youth. Young India even then (at the time of the dispute) had felt that issues which are connected to the daily life of the people and are fundamental are more important," party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters in New Delhi.

Tewari said that by reiterating that in a different context, Gandhi has pointed out towards the kind of India which the youth aspire for.

At Guwahati yesterday, Gandhi suggested that there are more important fundamental issues like education and infrastructure than Ayodhya.

Interacting with students at IIT Guwahati, Gandhi said, "My personal view is that there are many many fundamental issues that are much more important like infrastructure, the type of education we are providing to our youngsters and the type of technology we use".

Rahul was responding to a question on whether he thinks it is worthwhile at this time to spend so much time and energy over deciding whether a temple or mosque should be there at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

Tewari, however, refrained from commenting on the decision of the Supreme Court to defer the judgement of the title suit regarding the Ram janambhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute yesterday.

"The matter in under the Supreme Court. Notices to all parties have been issued for September 28. Centre is also a party. It is better to wait for the court order and not react to it," the spokesperson said.