The Hindu : BJP, VHP responsible for Ayodhya imbroglio: V.P. Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2003

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National

BJP, VHP responsible for Ayodhya imbroglio: V.P. Singh

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI Jan. 14. The former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh, today reiterated that the defiant attitude of the BJP and the VHP was the root cause for the current imbroglio in the Ayodhya dispute, which had become complicated and the country had to suffer for this.

Deposing before the Justice Liberhan Commission as a witness, Mr. Singh found fault with the BJP, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal for disregarding the judiciary and the Constitution and creating a mindset among the cadres that somehow the Ram temple should be constructed on the disputed site in Ayodhya.

He was of the view that allowing "shilanyas'' in the disputed area in 1989 by the Congress Government was a "big mistake'' that aggravated the crisis. He recalled his earlier deposition that the VHP in a written document to the then Union Home Minister, Buta Singh, had given a solemn commitment that it would abide by the court order, but it backed out of the agreement which became the basic cause for all the problems being faced now.

He wanted to know — "if the building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya was a matter of faith and not justifiable, how then did the VHP give a written commitment that it would abide by the court verdict''.

Explaining the steps taken by him for a negotiated settlement of the dispute, Mr. Singh said he invited the leaders of the Babri Masjid Action Committee (BMAC) and the VHP. While the BMAC said it would abide by the court order, the VHP said temple construction was a matter of faith and was outside the court's purview.

He said his Government had issued an ordinance on October 19, 1990 to acquire the disputed shrine and its adjoining area, to inspire confidence on both sides as part of efforts to solve the dispute but it had to be withdrawn within four days, as it did not gain the confidence of the parties.

He was categorical that L.K. Advani undertook the `rath yatra' in 1990 to counter the Mandal Commission's report, as the BJP was apprehensive that it might lose the middle class if the party supported the implementation of the report. He said though the Ayodhya issue was not on the agenda of the BJP, the construction of the Ram temple became the main agenda of the party.

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