New Delhi: Days after spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar’s attempts at mediation were rejected by parties involved, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said only a Ram temple, and no other structure, should be constructed at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

“We must build a temple with the same stones there. The day is not far when a saffron flag will fly atop the mandir,” Bhagwat said at the VHP’s ‘Dharma Sansad’ in Karnataka’s Udupi town on Friday.

"We will construct it. It is not a populist declaration but a matter of our faith. It will not change," he said. The RSS chief said that after years of efforts and sacrifice, it (building the Ram temple) seemed possible now, while also noting that the matter was in the court.

He said the temple would be constructed in the same grandeur as it existed before, using the "same stones" under the guidance of those who were the flag-bearers of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for the last 25 years.

But prior to it (building the temple), public awareness was essential, he said. "We are close to achieving our goal but at this juncture, we should be extra cautious.”

Delivering the keynote address at the two-day congregation, Bhagwat also pitched for a complete ban on cow slaughter. “If there is no ban on gau hatya (cow slaughter), we cannot be in peace,” the RSS chief said.

More than 2,000 saints, mutt heads and VHP leaders from across the country are attending the meet, which would also discuss the issues of caste and gender discrimination, the organisers said.

(With PTI inputs)