Wednesday, December 28 2005 17:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Recalling the strong ties between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and his party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President L K Advani today (Dec 28, 2005) said the organisation's mission will not be complete without the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

In his presidential address at the start of the party's three-day National Convention, he referred to the 'unachieved task' of the construction of the Ram temple and said, "BJP's mission will not be complete till a temple befitting Bhagwan Shri Ram is built at his place of birth."

"Each one of us must rededicate ourselves to this mission, for Shri Ram is not just a religious icon, he is also a symbol of the Indian ethos, culture and unity. He is the personification of our concept of cultural nationalism," Advani said.

In a speech recalling the strong links with RSS, he said those who had raked up the dual membership issue during the Janata Party rule had in a way helped the nation.

"BJP was formed after the Janata Party asked us to choose between being either a member of that party or a member of the RSS," he said.

"We told Janata Party leaders that our association with them was since 1975 or 1977 but our links with the RSS were from our childhood," the outgoing BJP Chief said, adding, "We told them there was no way we could leave RSS."

This is the second time in the last three days that Advani has used an occasion to sing for the Sangh. On Monday, before the meeting of the national executive began, he had lauded the role of the Sangh at a book release function.