The Hindu : We'll maintain status quo on Ayodhya: Govt.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 27, 2002

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We'll maintain status quo on Ayodhya: Govt.
By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 26. The Government today assured an all-party meeting that it would maintain status quo in Ayodhya and take appropriate steps to prevent recurrence of 1992-like situation,

even as the Opposition and some allies of the ruling National Democratic Alliance expressed dissatisfaction that measures had not been not initiated or outlined to prevent the build-up of `kar sevaks'.

Briefing correspondents after a two-hour meeting called by the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, on the Ayodhya developments, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Pramod Mahajan, said both Mr. Vajpayee and the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, said the Government was duty bound to maintain status quo and ensure that no law was violated either at the disputed site or on the land acquired by the Centre.

Mr. Vajpayee said no construction work would be allowed. The VHP had threatened to start the work on a Ram temple on March 15.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Advani said the Centre shared the concern expressed by leaders over the developments in Ayodhya and it would take all necessary steps at appropriate time to prevent any untoward incident. Irrespective of the political developments in Uttar Pradesh, it was the primary responsibility of the Centre to see that status quo was maintained at the disputed site and on the acquired land.

The Home Minister informed the meeting that till now 14,000 kar sevaks had assembled at Kar Sewakpuram in Ayodhya and the number altered with some leaving and others joining each day. He said that as a precaution the central police forces which were deployed for the elections duty had been retained and if required, more forces would be deployed.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Prime Minister said the Government had made its position clear that the Ayodhya dispute could be solved either through a negotiated settlement or through a court verdict.

The meeting also urged the Centre to implead itself in the Ayodhya case and request the court to expedite the case. Mr. Mahajan said though the Centre was not a party to the dispute, the leaders suggested that it move the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court which was hearing the matter to expedite hearing.

Allies including the Janata Dal (United), the Trinamool Congress, the Indian National Lok Dal and the MDMK asked the Government to take firms steps to prevent the kar sevaks from reaching Ayodhya, while the Opposition expressed dissatisfaction that the Government gave no categorical assurance that it would not allow the build-up of kar sevaks in Ayodhya. The Indian Union Muslim League suggested that the Army be deployed.

Congress not satisfied

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 26. The Congress is dissatisfied with the Centre's response to the Ayodhya situation. The CWC which met after an all-party meeting expressed its reservation at the approach and attitude of the Government.

The CWC was briefed by Ajun Singh about the stand the party adopted at the meeting and the Government's response. Mr. Singh said that despite being asked by the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, to ensure that the Government took concrete steps before the Prime Minister went on his foreign visit, the Government did not commit itself to a plan of action.

Mr. Singh told the CWC that the situation was heading for a catastrophe and the Government was unwilling to commit itself on how it proposed to prevent the situation from taking a turn for the worse.

Briefing newspersons after the late night CWC meeting, Jaipal Reddy said the Government's response to the issues raised by Congress leaders and others was ``formal and not forceful''.

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