The Hindu : Ayodhya security curbs to be eased

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

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Ayodhya security curbs to be eased

LUCKNOW, MARCH 16. The Uttar Pradesh Governor, Vishnu Kant Shastri, today said the security restrictions in Ayodhya, imposed in the wake of the `shila daan' programme by the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, would be relaxed gradually from tomorrow.

Talking to presspersons here, Mr. Shastri said he would send a written request to the Centre to resume the train services to Ayodhya, which were snapped to prevent the ``Ram sevaks'' from reaching the pilgrim town in large numbers.

A special officer would be sent to Ayodhya to ensure that the directives being issued in this regard were being effectively implemented.

The Governor said the administration was committed to implementing the Supreme Court order on maintaining status quo in Ayodhya.

All shops in the main markets as well as in the lanes and bylanes of Faizabad and Ayodhya opened for business today. The schools and colleges of the district would be reopened on Monday.

The VHP's 100-day-long ``purnahuti yagya,'' which began on February 24, continued at Karsevakpuram amid reports that the outfit's senior vice-president, Giriraj Kishore, who was arrested in Lucknow on Friday while going to Ayodhya and later released, would reach the temple town later today.

Begins hunger strike

The local MLA, Lallu Singh, began an indefinite hunger strike in Faizabad against the restrictions, while the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas president, Ramchandradas Paramhans, warned of an indefinite sit-in by hundreds of religious leaders if the restrictions were not eased in three days.

`Temple can be built by force'

Ramchandradas Paramhans sought to justify the change of venue of ``shila daan'', saying he had saved the Government's ``honour'' and asserted that Ram temple could be built only through use of force.

``I abided by the Supreme Court's decision (by not performing the ``shila daan'' near the acquired land). I saved the Government's lajja,'' he told reporters in Ayodhya.

``There could have been bloodshed, had I gone ahead with my plan of donating the `shila' near the acquired land. That is why I dispersed the `kar sevaks' who had come along with me.'' The Paramhans asserted that he had ``technically carried out the `shila daan' at the planned place as one of `shilas' was donated at Ramkot Mohalla close to the acquired land''.

On the next move, he said it would be ``very sensitive,'' but refused to elaborate. But he said ``as the Babri mosque was built by force, the temple would also be built by force in the same way the mosque was demolished by `Ram sevaks.' In this world, only `takat' works. . . . Nobody can accept any verdict against the religious beliefs of a community.''

- PTI, UNI

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