VHP not to obey adverse SC verdict

JAIPUR, Dec 24 (PTI) — The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today made it clear that it would not accept the Supreme Court verdict if it went against the construction of Ram Temple at the disputed place in Ayodhya and would launch a nation-wide agitation to force the government to allow the construction through suitable legislative measures.

The VHP expected the court verdict to be in favour of temple construction, parishad general secretary Acharya Giriraj Kishore said here today.

But if it went against it, "we shall launch a nation-wide agitation to press the government to allow construction of the temple through legislative measures," Mr Kishore told mediapersons while briefing on the deliberations of the three-day international coordination committee meeting of the VHP.

The Union Government had changed the statute in the Shah Bano case to "circumvent" the court verdict and there should be no difficulty in doing so in deference to Hindu sentiments on construction of the temple, the VHP leader said.

The construction of Ram Temple may not start in the next three years as the material required for it was not likely to be ready till then, Mr Kishore said.

Carved stones for the temple, especially the "garbh griha" (sanctum sactorum), were still being sculpted and might not be ready for another three years, he said.

He expressed the hope that by the time the material was ready for commencement of construction, the apex court would also come out with its verdict on the disputed site.