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No change in stand on Ayodhya: PM

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI AUG. 3. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, categorically said here today that there was no change in the Government's Ayodhya policy — the matter should be settled either through negotiations or left to the courts. He virtually ruled out the legislative option that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have been insisting upon.

Efforts were on to get Hindu and Muslim leaders to sit together and find a way out of the impasse and he was confident they would succeed, he added.

The Prime Minister was clarifying his August 1 statement in Ayodhya on the issue at the cremation of Ramchandradas Paramhans, president of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas. He was reported as having said that a Ram temple would come up at Ayodhya, that all hurdles in the way would be removed, and that the "dream" of the Paramhans would be fulfilled.

Today, Mr. Vajpayee virtually disowned that statement, saying the reports were "baseless" and he wished to "clarify". There was no change in the Ayodhya policy, nor was there need for any change. Noting the criticism of his August 1 speech as reported, Mr. Vajpayee said: "In one speech I was not able to say everything that needed to be said (about the Ayodhya matter)."

The Opposition party leaders have charged the Prime Minister with making a habit of saying one thing on Ayodhya one day and then clarifying it afterwards. In fact, since August 1 several Opposition leaders have charged the Prime Minister with "violating his oath of office" by speaking on a sensitive sub judice matter. Others expected him to "clarify" within days. The Congress, the CPI (M), the Janata Dal (S), the Samajwadi Party and several others had criticised Mr. Vajpayee for saying that the temple would come up at Ayodhya when the matter was before the courts.

Mr. Vajpayee was addressing a group of Delhi State Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and workers at his residence today. After talking about the city's development problems, he turned to Ayodhya. "There is no change in our Ayodhya policy. We have been saying we want a temple to come up at Ayodhya, but in a cordial atmosphere, with everyone's consent and help. One way was for both communities to decide together, efforts were being made and I am confident these will be successful." He said the "second way" was to leave the dispute to the courts. "Whatever the courts decide, everyone should accept it, this is also a way (to resolve the Ayodhya dispute)." And finally, he added: "There is no other way," thus ruling out the legislative option.

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