The NCP chief has put his alliance partner Shiv Sena in an awkward position when he questioned the urgency of constructing the Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya.
After the Ayodhya verdict, the Hindu-Muslim discord was prevented, thanks to the steps taken by the administration and community leaders. But Muslims in India are now divided.
The apex court said the disputed 2.77-acre site in Ayodhya be given to a government-run trust for the building of a temple and a five-acre plot at a 'prominent site' will be given for a mosque.
With the BJP facing strong challenges, Ravi Shankar Prasad's statement, that the Ayodhya case must be heard without delay, sounds more like a plea for help than a mere observation.