The Hindu : VHP launches `sankalp sutra' programme

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 10, 2003

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VHP launches `sankalp sutra' programme

By Our Special Correspondent

The VHP leader, Ashok Singhal, performing puja in Ayodhya on Monday. To his right is Vinay Katiyar, U.P. BJP chief. - Photo: By Special Arrangements.

LUCKNOW JUNE 9. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today launched its `sankalp sutra' programme from Ayodhya to revive its campaign on the Ram temple issue. The programme consists of taking "Ram raksha sankalp sutras" (holy threads) to various parts of the country where these would be tied to the wrists of Hindus. Those receiving the thread would take a pledge to keep the threads on their wrists till the Ram temple is constructed at Ayodhya.

About 200 VHP organising secretaries were given the threads as a symbolic commencement of the programme. The VHP plans to tie the threads to two crore Hindus.

The senior VHP leader, Purushottam Narain Singh, told presspersons at Ayodhya that the thread would serve as a constant reminder that the task was unfinished. The programme began with a `yagna' within Karsevakpuram. Senior VHP leaders Ashok Singhal and Acharya Giriraj Kishore were the main participants along with the State BJP president, Vinay Katiyar. Mr. Katiyar said he was seeking the resurgence of the `Ram wave' in Uttar Pradesh. The Ram temple would be built at the disputed site soon and there could be no compromise on the issue.

PTI reports:

Acharya Kishore warned that the VHP and the Sangh Parivar would not support the BJP in the general elections slated for next year if the party failed to take up the cause of Hindus. Mr. Singhal said the Prime Minister's suggestion was reflective of the "escapist" policy adopted by the BJP leaders to put contentious issues on the backburner. The BJP had adopted the pro-Muslim programme of its NDA partners and had done away with its own programme for seeking the abrogation of Article 370 and imposing of a common civil code, he said adding that the party should quit the NDA and the Vajpayee Government should dissolve the Lok Sabha paving the way for fresh elections on the temple issue.

"We will demand enactment of law in Parliament for the construction of the Ram temple and handing over of the acquired land to the VHP for this purpose," Mr. Singhal said.

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