The Hindu : We will take land by force, says Nyas chief

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 18, 2002

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We will take land by force, says Nyas chief

AYODHYA, MARCH 17. The Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas president, Ramchandradas Paramhans, today said that construction of the Ram temple here would ``start this year and was expected to be completed within the next five years''.

``I am satisfied with the peaceful conduct of the `shila daan' ceremony on March 15 and my efforts to build a Ram temple would continue,'' he said and expressed the hope that the Government would hand over the acquired land to the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. He claimed that there was no problem in doing so. Asked what he would do if it was not handed over to the Trust, he said he would take the land ``by force''.

``It is our property. We are not trying to grab the land of others. The land should be given to the Nyas.''

Asked whether he was satisfied with the efforts of the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, to resolve the dispute, he said it could be resolved amicably if the Government made ``sincere efforts''. However, he said he had no idea how Mr. Vajpayee would go about settling the matter, given his ``compulsions''. ``The Prime Minister is already under pressure from his allies on this issue.

The Paramhans said he was prepared to talk to Muslims to resolve the matter. ``I have no problem in talking to `samajhdhar' (wise) Muslims to settle the matter,'' he said. ``Every Muslim knows that it is the birthplace of Lord Ram.''

He said he had spoken to the Home Minister, L.K. Advani, who had assured him that the restrictions in Ayodhya would be lifted within the next two-three days. Mr. Advani had also said that he would take up the matter of restoration of train services to Faizabad and Ayodhya.

Singhal on hunger strike

The VHP international working president, Ashok Singhal, began a hunger strike at Karsevakpuram to press his demand for security to the ``Ram sevaks'' visiting Ayodhya to participate in the `purnahuti yagna'.

``The hunger strike will continue till the Centre gives a guarantee that the ``Ram sevaks'' coming to Ayodhya to take part in the ``yagna'' would be provided security and their safe return ensured,'' Mr. Singhal said in a statement here. He also asked the State Government to restore normality in Ayodhya.

The senior State Government official, Navneet Sehgal, who mediated between the Government and Ramchandradas Paramhans during the ``shila daan'' on March 15, today called on Mr. Singhal and had a closed-door meeting for about half-an-hour. However, he declined to divulge the details of the talks.

The VHP vice-president, Giriraj Kishore, told presspersons at Karsevakpuram that the programme for temple construction would be decided at a meeting of VHP office-bearers in Ayodhya soon.

He said the Supreme Court's order on the ``shila puja'' programme appeared to have been delivered in haste. ``That is why the apex court had to make certain corrections in its orders the next day. The court judgment should convey a message that justice has been done to all parties by maintaining transparency.'' Acharya Giriraj Kishore also demanded a code of conduct for Parliament and the Supreme Court.

Meanwhile, the situation in Ayodhya and Faizabad was peaceful and markets in the temple town remained open. Normal traffic was seen on the roads since morning. _ PTI

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