The Hindu : Govt. still hopeful of solution

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 11, 2002

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Govt. still hopeful of solution
By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 10. The Prime Minister convened a top level informal meeting here this evening to review the tense situation developing in relation to Ayodhya after the All India Muslim Personal Law Board politely but firmly said ``no'' to the Ayodhya-related proposals of the Kanchi Shankaracharya and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad made it known that it would launch a country-wide ``Hindu movement'' if it was prevented from performing `shila poojan' on March 15 and constructing a temple on 42 acres of Government-acquired land in Ayodhya.

The immediate focus of the meeting was the coming hearing of a petition in the Supreme Court related to the VHP's March 15 programme. The petitioner, Aslam Bhure, has sought directions from the Court to the Government on the deployment of the Army in Ayodhya and the seizure of carved stones which the VHP is proposing to move to the acquired land on March 15. The Court has set March 13 for a hearing.

The Union Home Minister, L.K.Advani, the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, the Human Resource development Minister, Murli Manohar Joshi, the Law Minister, Arun Jaitely, the National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, the BJP president, Jana Krishnamurthi, and the Attorney-General, Soli Sorabjee, attended the meeting.

Later, Mr. Sorabjee indicated that a decision was made on the stand the Government would take before the Court. But he did not divulge what it would be.

Although precisely what was discussed at the meeting was not known, the Government is still hopeful that the effort towards resolving the Ayodhya dispute is not quite over. Sources pointed out that the Muslim Board had not rejected outright the proposals of the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Jayendra Saraswati, but had sought some more assurances and clarifications. Perhaps the Shankaracharya would take the negotiations forward, an official said. He indicated that was the thinking in the Prime Minister's Office.

Reports coming in from Ayodhya suggest that although there is no formal ban on the movement of VHP and other Sangh Parivar volunteers into the city, the police are in fact allowing many `Ram sevaks' in, especially those coming on foot. The VHP itself has claimed that nearly 20,000 of these volunteers can be expected to be in Ayodhya by March 15.

Meanwhile, the BJP spokesperson, V.K. Malhotra, tonight said the Muslim Board had rejected the proposals ``under pressure'' from the Opposition parties ``who do not want communal harmony in the country.''

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