The Hindu : Face polls on temple issue: Swamy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 18, 2002

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Face polls on temple issue: Swamy

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE FEB.17. The president of the Janata Party, Subramanian Swamy, today challenged the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, to face a mid-term election on the Ram temple issue.

Dr. Swamy told presspersons here that a `fraud on the people' had been committed on the issue and hoped that the people would express through their vote whether a temple was necessary at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

On the Prime Minister admitting that he has failed in his efforts to dissuade the temple-related activity, Dr. Swamy wondered whether Mr. Vajpayee had taken any effort at all. `'Even the VHP has expressed surprise at the claim of efforts.''

The Prime Minister should put an end to the announcement of deadlines for construction of the temple or else resign, he said. ``First punish those responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Whether a temple or a mosque should be built at that site could be decided later.''

The National Democratic Alliance Government had failed on all fronts but an alternative could be brought about only if the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, lent full co-operation, he said alluding to his tea party in 1999 that failed to forge an alternative coalition.

Dr. Swamy said the alternative involving the former Prime Minister, Chandra Sekhar, Samajawadi Party president, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal president, Laloo Prasad Yadav could succeed if Ms. Gandhi did not offer her `tacit' support to the NDA.

As for an alternative to the Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu, it was not possible now as the other parties lacked clarity. And, both DMK and AIADMK have failed as they did not have an economic programme for the State.

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