The Hindu : Take up temple issue, VHP tells Advani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003

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Take up temple issue, VHP tells Advani

RAIPUR JUNE 24. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today pinned its hopes on the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, for an early construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya rather than the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, for the settlement of the issue.

"Right from the beginning, Mr. Vajpayee has not been associated with the temple movement. We are not expecting anything from him,'' the VHP working president, Ashok Singhal, told reporters here.

He denied suggestions that the VHP's call to Mr. Advani to come out in support of legislation to construct a Ram temple was a "calculated move" by the Sangh Parivar to project him as its leader. "We are not projecting anybody. But if Mr. Advani makes efforts, the legislation will be passed."

"If they are unable to bring legislation for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, they should resign and seek a fresh mandate of the people. If Mr. Advani takes a stand and an initiative to bring in legislation, the entire Hindu community will support him. This is an opportunity for Mr. Advani to regain the confidence of the Hindus,'' Mr Singhal added.

Asked why Mr. Advani should take the lead when the Prime Minister and others were making efforts to solve the problem, he said: "Nobody then asked Mr. Advani to take out rath yatra (chariot journey) in 1991. If he can take out a rath yatra for the cause, he can also take an initiative for it.''

The VHP leader also criticised the Prime Minister for the recent moves to resume rail and road transport service between India and Pakistan.

``He (Mr. Vajpayee) is just talking about the Samjhauta train and Samjauta bus. These are just deals being worked out under the pressure of some world powers.''

"No Hindu wants to go to that side. Then what is the necessity of a deal for the bus and train which mainly bring terrorists," Mr. Singhal asked and warned if the current policy of "appeasement" of Muslims continued then in West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh Hindus would have to leave their houses.

Mr. Singhal said that he had told Kanchi Shankaracharya, Jayendra Saraswati, to drop his move towards the settlement of the Ayodhya dispute because the Centre itself was trying to strike a ``deal with Islamic leaders''. "The Centre has kept the Kanchi Sankaracharya and others in the dark about the deal. Ultimately, they will try to pass the buck to the seer. — UNI

`Proposal not discussed'

A PTI report from Kancheepuram said that the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswati, said his fresh proposals on the Ayodhya issue did not figure in the discussions with the VHP leader, Ashok Singhal, on Sunday last.

Confirming that he had discussions with Mr. Singhal generally on the contentious Ayodhya issue, the Acharya said the fresh proposals were not discussed at all.As for the proposals, he asserted that it had been ``locked up and the contents could be revealed only after July 6''. Asked about the Congress statement that only a court decision on Ayodhya issue could be final, he remarked ``that is also true''. ``I will meet you all here on July 7 regarding this,'' he told newspersons.

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