The Hindu : Dharam Sansad plans agitation for Ram temple

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 23, 2003

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Dharam Sansad plans agitation for Ram temple

By Neena Vyas

Participants at the "Dharam Sansad'' organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad at the Ramlila ground in New Delhi on Saturday. — Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI FEB. 22. A nationwide agitation through `dharnas' and `satyagrahas' in support of the demand for the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya was announced at the Vishwa Hindu Parishad-led Dharam Sansad here today where several `sadhus' and `sants' directly attacked the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and his Government for using "Ram naam" (the name of Ram) to the hilt for grabbing power but doing nothing to help construct the temple.

On Friday, the VHP leader, Ashok Singhal, had suggested at a press conference that something "dramatic" would be announced, which could include a programme of "self-immolation" by `sadhus'. Instead, the resolution on Ram Janmabhoomi adopted today was a damp squib with the earlier suggestion of a "march on Parliament" also censored out.

`Sadhu' after `sadhu' insisted that the Ram temple issue would not be discussed again at any Dharam Sansad.

Their ire was clearly aimed at the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani. As one speaker, Parmanand, who moved the resolution said: "Those who won the elections on Hindutva now feel ashamed to talk about the Ram temple and a Hindu rashtra. They should drown themselves and die (unko chullu bhar pani main doob marna chahiye).

Others said that if they still wanted a Ram temple — the reference was perhaps to the Prime Minister's recent statement during the Himachal election campaign — they should resign their seats in Parliament, give up power, and "join us" in the agitation for the temple. Other MPs who talked of the temple should do the same.

The one-page resolution demanded that the Government-acquired land in Ayodhya be handed over to allow temple construction. It criticised the Government for not doing this in the last one year despite a firm assurance to them. This Government "slackness' would cost it dear, it warned while regretting that legislators had been unable to resolve the Ayodhya issue.

The `sadhus' will take to the people the message of the sacrifice of Ram sevaks (including those who died in the Godhra carnage) through `dharnas' and demonstrations and rallies in towns and cities from Feb. 27. And then from March 5 to 24, small `yatras' by `sadhus' would focus on the disappointment with the Government's handling of this issue.

Several thousand `sadhus' sat through the day as `jawans' of the Rapid Action Force stood guard and men in cheap theatrical costumes with paper bows and arrows decorated the dais over which saffron flags with `om' fluttered.

Addressing the Sansad earlier, the VHP leader, Pravin Togadia, lamented that the Government subsidised `Haj' and Amarnath `yatris' faced bullets, many Hindu temples were administered by the Government but mosques were not touched. In short, the situation could be remedied only by "amending the Constitution" and re-naming India as Hindustan and declaring it a Hindu rashtra. Godhra, he said, would not have happened had the Ayodhya land been handed over peacefully.

Mr. Togadia's final warning: a second Mahabharat will be fought in which Hindus will be pitted against communists, socialists and "beggars of Muslim votes".

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