The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, January 21, 2001,
Chandigarh, India

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VHP deadline on Ram Temple
Construction after March 12, 2002
From KG Dutt
Tribune News Service

KUMBH NAGAR (Allahabad), Jan 20 — The Dharam Sansad, organised by the VHP here today fixed March 12, 2002, for removing all obstructions in the way of the construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

The sansad, at its afternoon session at Sangam, through a resolution gave a warning and ultimatum to the parties concerned that if by March 12, 2002, all hurdles were not removed, the VHP, would start the construction of the temple on any auspicious day after that.

The resolution was moved by Acharya Dharmendraji on behalf of Swami Ramchander Dass Paramhans, chairman, Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas.

Later, elucidating the resolution Swami Ramchander Paramhans declared amongst applause that nobody would be able to stop the construction of the Ram Temple after that date, the VHP would start construction on any auspicious “mahurat” after that.

Even the time and the date of declaration was decided by a team of three astrologers led by Pandit Kameshwar Parishad of Varanasi. The team of astrologers had decided that the date should be declared before 3.30 pm today. Acharya Dharmendra said they had done their job for which the international Hindu community was looking forward. He declared that after that date there would be no going back.

Today’s decision while ending the uncertainty prevailing about the date also gave enough time to the powers that be to think over the matter.

The session in which the “sankalp parstav”, what the VHP described it was passed was presided over by Swami Satya Mitranand — a former Shankracharya. Mahamandleshwars of the Mahanirvani Akhara, the Juna Akhara and the Niranjani Akhara were present on the dais. With their presence, the VHP wanted to allay the doubts that the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, the mainbody of the sadhus’ organisation of the country, was with it. However, it was discernible that no representative of the 13-member parishad was present. Only their mahamandleshwars had come.

It was notable that minutes before the date of announcement, a miniature model of the Ram Temple was brought to the stage and kept on the dais. The resolution further said the activities regarding the temple construction would start between September 18 and October 16, 2001 when “jalaabhishek” of Lord Shiva would be undertaken in lakhs of temples throughout the country.

PM refuses comment

NEW DELHI, Jan 20 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today did not respond to media queries on the VHP sponsored Dharam Sansad at Kumbh setting a deadline to remove all obstacles in the way of Ayodhya temple construction.

When mediapersons asked him about it at a physicians conference here, the Prime Minister gestured with his hands as if to say this was not the right place.

As a reporter remarked Dharam Sansad was also related to national health, Mr Vajpayee just moved ahead.

HYDERABAD: Making light of the VHP’s deadline on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the BJP today said it was not an ultimatum to the government and expressed the hope that the issue could be resolved through “greater amity and dialogue”.

“I do not see it as an ultimatum”, the party president Bangaru Laxman told reporters here when asked about the VHP sponsored Dharam Sansad’s resolution at Kumbh Nagar asking the government to “remove all obstacles” in the way of the Ram Temple by March 12 next year.