The Hindu : Court verdict only solution to Ayodhya dispute: PM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 17, 2002

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Court verdict only solution to Ayodhya dispute: PM
By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, FEB. 16. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, said here today that his efforts to solve the Ayodhya dispute through negotiations had failed as both the parties concerned were equally rigid in their stance. The court verdict was the only way to solve the dispute, he said.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr. Vajpayee said he had expressed the hope of solving the problem through negotiations by March 12 but his efforts had failed. However, there was no need to take any step in view of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad's declaration that it would start the construction of Ram temple from March 15. Whatever was necessary would be done at the proper time, he said.

When reminded of the VHP's announcement of sticking to its plans of temple construction, even if it meant the ouster of his Government, Mr. Vajpayee said he expected only this kind of sentiment from the `sants' and religious leaders, adding that the people's support to his own stand was increasing.

On his talks with the VHP leaders at the conclusion of their ``chetavani yatra'' last month, Mr. Vajpayee said the VHP had demanded the transfer of the undisputed land in the vicinity of the make-shift temple at Ayodhya. The Government was examining the issue _ it was studying files and verifying ownerships. On the delay in giving a court verdict, he said two more judges were needed on the Ayodhya Bench and hoped the vacancies would be filled soon.

As for the VHP's March 12 deadline to start the temple construction at the disputed site, he said ``let the deadline come.''

`Dec. 6 won't repeat'

Asked whether there would be a repeat of December 6 (when the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992), given the unrelenting attitude and the threatening postures of the VHP, Mr. Vajpayee replied in the negative. ``No, no. It will not be allowed this time.'' And he did not give any assurance of resolving the Ayodhya tangle by March 15. To another query on banning the VHP, the Prime Minister said ``there is no need to ban the organisation.''

Mr. Vajpayee said the Government was awaiting the report of a Parliamentary committee on the issue of allowing foreign direct investment in print media. ``A Parliamentary Committee is examining the issue and we are awaiting the report.'' The Information and Broadcasting Ministry had referred the issue to the Standing Committee on Information Technology.

Expressing the confidence that the BJP would gain an absolute majority in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, he sidetracked all the questions on a post-poll alliance.

On the question of his describing the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, as a foreign woman, Mr. Vajpayee said he had made only a statement of fact and it was not a personal attack. She was an Indian citizen and also the Leader of the Opposition. He had only described her status.

`Kashmir, integral part of India'

UNI reports:

Addressing an election meeting in Gorakhpur, Mr. Vajpayee said Kashmir was an integral part of India and there could be no dispute over it. He rejected the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf's offer of talks on Kashmir.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had ratified the State's accession to India after Independence. Pakistan had staked its claim for Kashmir on the basis of its being a Muslim-dominated State but did not realise that the Muslim population in India was more than the total population of that country.

Pakistan was occupying one-third of the Indian territory and talks would be held only on that issue and not Kashmir. At the time of Independence, the leaders had divided the country on religious lines. And India had honoured their decision to live in peace with its neighbour. However, it was Pakistan which turned the aggressor and attacked India thrice.

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