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'Conspiracy to build Ram temple'
By Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI, DEC. 10. The Ayodhya issue sparked a furore again in the Lok Sabha today with the Opposition members insisting on an explanation from the Government for the conduct of the five Central Ministers who attended a ``secret'' meeting last week relating to construction of a ``Ram temple'' in Ayodhya. Amid slogan-shouting and uproar during zero hour, the Lok Sabha was adjourned in the pre-lunch session.
Putting a question mark over the conduct of the five Ministers, an agitated Opposition contended that the Ministers had violated the oath of secrecy by attending the meeting at which the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, Mr. Ashok Singhal, was also present. The Opposition alleged that the meeting smacked of a ``conspiracy'' to go ahead with the construction of the temple in violation of the Supreme Court orders to maintain the status quo on the disputed site in Ayodhya.
Mr. Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi, Congress Chief Whip, charged the five Ministers with violating Article 75 (3) (4) of the Constitution as well as the oath of secrecy under the Third Schedule of the Constitution. ``The Council of Ministers collectively is answerable to the Lok Sabha and not to the Rajya Sabha. They must explain their conduct before the House,'' he demanded.
Mr. Dasmunshi said the five Ministers must clarify in the House what had transpired at last week's meeting held at a BJP MP's residence here. ``No official statement or explanation has come from the Government so far. As the Prime Minister is on a visit to Japan, the Home Minister should have come here to explain. Why is he running away? Let him come and explain,'' he said.
He lauded the statement of the DMK leader, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, an NDA ally, for clearly stating that his party was opposed to the construction of the temple at the disputed site.
As Mr. Dasmunshi attacked the BJP-led Government, he was supported by Mr. Akhilesh Singh and Mr. Ramji Lal Suman, both Samajwadi Party members, Mr. Rashid Alvi of the BSP and Mr. Ramdas Athawale (RPI) who gave vent to their full lung power and raised slogans against the Government for ``hatching the conspiracy to build the temple on the eve of U.P. Assembly polls.'' They described the presence of the five Ministers at the meeting as ``shameful and shocking.''
As the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, rose to respond to the charges, the Opposition members demanded that the Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani come to the House and clarify. Amidst continuing uproar, the Deputy Speaker, Mr. P.M. Sayeed, adjourned the House till lunch break. Later, addressing a press conference, the BJP spokesman, Mr. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, condemned the behaviour of the Opposition in the House, saying that it was not mandatory for the Government to respond during zero hour.
He rapped the Opposition for raising the issue of ``who met whom'' and said the VHP leaders had met leaders like Rajiv Gandhi, Mr. P.V. Narasimha Rao, Mr. Chandra Shekhar and others in the past to present their point of view. ``Nobody had objected then and raised it in Parliament at that time. The Opposition does not have any issue other than Ayodhya to raise. By such tactics, the Samajwadi Party wants to corner Muslim votes in the coming U.P. Assembly polls. Why has Congress developed such an allergy towards the word `Hindu'? It was during its rule that `shilanyas' at Ayodhya was performed,'' Mr. Malhotra said.
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