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Temple should be built, says Jayalalithaa

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai July 29. Fully backing the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today declared that "if we cannot build a temple in India for Lord Rama, then where else can we build it? It should be built."

In a brief interaction with the media at the AIADMK headquarters here, Ms. Jayalalithaa said she supported the construction of a temple in Ayodhya "in principle".

Asked if her party would back the enactment of a law for the construction of a temple at Ayodhya, she said that legislation had not been brought in yet.

When a reporter asked whether she would support the building a temple at the disputed site if the BJP introduced legislation, the Chief Minister said: "Your question is convoluted and confused.

``These are all complex issues. In principle, we are for construction of a temple. I am not going into the other legal issues."

The AIADMK chief also came out in support of the Supreme Court suggestion for enacting a common civil code. "A common civil code is very necessary for the country," she asserted.

Rejecting a suggestion that a common civil code would neglect the interests of the minorities, she said, "not at all.

A common civil code will ensure true equality for everyone." Her party would "certainly" support a law providing for a uniform civil code.

Asked if the Opposition was playing "dirty politics" on the Government employees strike issue, she said: "the answer lies in the question itself."

To a query on the confusion prevailing over the First Information Reports filed against the Government employees who took part in the strike, Ms.Jayalalithaa said that the "entire matter" was before the Supreme Court and she could not "say anything about it now."

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