The Hindu : 'Settle Bhojshala issue through talks'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 04, 2003

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'Settle Bhojshala issue through talks'

The Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Uma Bharti, offering prayers at the Bhojshala in Dhar on Tuesday. — PTI

Dhar (Madhya Pradesh) June 3. The Bhojshala issue should be settled on the lines of Somnath temple through talks and the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Digvijay Singh, should take the initiative to find a solution, the BJP leader, Uma Bharti, said today.

"All sides should settle the matter through talks and Digvijay Singh as the Chief Minister should take the initiative."

Accusing the Congress, particularly Mr. Singh, of making it a dispute, she told reporters here after visiting Bhojshala that there was proof that no mosque existed there. She alleged that Mr. Singh had "committed a sin" by stating that a mosque existed in Bhojshala. ``He should make amends on this by settling the issue within his tenure as a Chief Minister''.

The Congress had hatched a "conspiracy" to turn all monuments of national importance into disputed issues, and the "Bhojshala is also a victim of that conspiracy". The Congress was trying to reap political benefits out of the issue, she alleged.

Asked whether Bhojshala would be a poll issue, she replied in the negative and said the BJP would focus on the development of the State.

``The matter should not be allowed to become a major problem like Ayodhya. The Congress should desist from such a game plan. Very good solution is possible as there has never been a dispute on the issue.''

Earlier, the Minister of State for Culture, Bhavana Chikhalia, while claiming that the Digvijay Government was trying to reap political benefits out of issue, said "some lacunae" existed in the system that was now in operation at the Bhojshala complex which had to be corrected.

She also claimed that no mosque existed at the site and said the Mughal rulers had destroyed several temples in different parts of the country and "this is one of them".

"Our duty is to open it for prayers in keeping with the sentiments of the people," she added. — PTI

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