The Hindu : Shifting of carved stones objected

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 16, 2002

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Shifting of carved stones objected

AYODHYA, MARCH 15. Even as Muslims in general expressed relief over the peaceful conclusion of the `shila daan' programme in this temple town, community leaders tonight took serious objection to the Government allowing the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to shift the carved stones from its workshop here and charged the administration with being ``hand in glove'' with the Sangh Parivar outfit.

``By allowing the `shila daan', it has been proved beyond doubt that the Government and the VHP are two sides of the same coin. The administration had promised not to allow the VHP to shift the stones outside the workshop, but they went against their word,'' Mohd Hashim Ansari, a key plaintiff in the temple-mosque titlesuit pending before the Allahabad High Court, told PTI.

Another leader, Khaliq Ahmed Khan, said that by allowing the VHP to carry out its plan, the Government had ``revealed its hidden agenda''.

``The Hindus will now have to decide whether they want to back communal organisations like the VHP or keep the secular

character of the country intact,'' Mr. Khan, a special invitee to

the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said.

M.Y. Siddiqui, district chief of the Babri Masjid Action Committee, said the community's faith in the Government had been lost with this incident.

``Why did they (administration) allow shifting of stones in the first place? Why did they allow the VHP leader, Ashok Singhal, to enter Ayodhya and cause tension when prohibitory orders were in force in the town?'' he asked.

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