Congress today sought to drive a wedge in the Opposition NDA on the Ayodhya issue as BJP chief Rajnath Singh raked it up saying his party is committed to the construction of the Ram temple.

"Has the BJP ever consulted its allies on the matter? Do they also want it. Whenever the elections come near, the BJP is reminded of the issue as it wants to gain power by hook or crook," party spokesman Rashid Alvi told reporters.

He contended that the BJP has always used the Ayodhya issue to "mislead the people ahead of elections" but never spoke of it when it was in power for six long years.

Alvi's comment came close on the heels of declaration by the new BJP president at Allahabad moments after former VHP chief Ashok Singhal bragged about the demolition of Babri masjid in the early 1990s during the campaign for construction of Ram temple.

"Everyone is equal before the law, whether he is an MP or MLA or anyone else," remarked Alvi when asked about Pravin Togadia's alleged inflammatory speech on February 1 near Adilabad district, the same district where MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi had delivered his hate speech. Owaisi has already been arrested by the police.