The Hindu : `Only a donation of pillars'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2002

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`Only a donation of pillars'

AYODHYA, MARCH 11. In a major climbdown on the Ayodhya issue today, the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas (RJN) president, Ramchandra Das Paramhans, virtually dropped the plans for a ``bhoomi puja'' near the disputed site and announced a scaled-down programme for March 15.

``We had thought the RamJanmabhoomi would be handed over to us by March 12 and we would go there on March 15 with ``shilas'' (carved stone pillars) to begin the construction work... but the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, has failed to hand over the land,'' he said here, adding ``we will not go to others' land for sangarsh (struggle) or take law into our hands.''

Echoing Paramhans' views, the Bajrang Dal founder-president and Bharatiya Janata Party MP, Vinay Katiyar, said in New Delhi that no ``bhoomi puja'' would be performed on March 15 - only a donation of pillars would take place.

Earlier, the RJN and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad launched the programme for the March 15 ``puja'' by conducting a prayer at the workshop where ``shilas'' were being prepared.

After conducting the 90-minute prayer, in which leaders of the VHP and the BJP participated, the RJN said the ``shilas'' would be donated at the Ram Janmabhoomi site on March 15.

``I have pledged to donate stones at the `garb griha' (sanctum sanctorum) of Lord Ram and I am going to donate them there,'' Paramhans told reporters.

``I will take a receipt from the receiver (Faizabad Divisional Commissioner) and it will be his responsibility to ensure the protection of the stones.'' (The Divisional Commissioner, A. K. Gupta, said he could accept the ``donation'' only after receiving a nod from the Centre). - PTI

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