M A I N   N E W S

VHP unveils action plan
‘Faithful’ can build temple: Singhal

KUMBHNAGAR, Jan 21 (PTI) — Outlining the action plan for the Ram Temple construction at the disputed site at Ayodhya, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad today declared that the “faithful” who had demolished the structure could build a temple there.

The action plan to generate public opinion for the temple construction would commence with “Shivarchana” (prayer of Lord Shiva) and “jalabhishek” (offering of water) at temples across the country on September 18 this year, VHP working President Ashok Singhal told reporters here.

The “Shivarchana” by VHP activists and leaders would continue till October 16, 2001, Mr Singhal told the VHP-sponsored Dharma Sansad which ended here today.

In the second stage beginning November 26 this year, sants and sadhus would organise “yagnas” for the temple construction across the country, he said.

If the government failed to hand over the land at Ayodhya for the temple construction before the Dharma Sansad deadline of March 12, 2002, the sants would “certainly compel the authorities to do so”.

“If the faithful can demolish the disputed structure, then the same forces can complete the construction of a grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya,” Mr Singhal said.

Mr Singhal said the construction of Ram Temple would begin any time after March 12, 2002, the deadline set by the Dharma Sansad to the government for removing all obstacles in the way of the construction. He said the resolution adopted yesterday by the Dharma Sansad on the temple construction would be implemented in toto.

Urging Muslims to support the construction of Ram Temple, he said “it is in their interests to support the issue in the larger interests of Hindus.” “If they oppose it, it will not make much of a difference to the temple movement,” Mr Singhal said.

On Tehri Dam, the VHP leader opposed its construction saying that the dam would hinder free flow of the Ganga. “The Ganga is sacred to the Hindus and, therefore, the construction of Tehri Dam must be stopped at once to allow the river to flow through its course,” he said.

In his inaugural speech, Mr Singhal said lakhs of Hindus would converge on Ayodhya after Shivratri next year and build the temple in the same spirit as they demolished Babri Masjid there.

He said the resolution on Ayodhya, passed in the Dharma Sansad yesterday, could not be implemented without the display of people’s power and the proposed action plan on Ayodhya had been designed to unify Hindus across the country to participate in the Ram-Janmabhoomi movement.

BHUBANESWAR: The CPM Central Committee today described the decision of the VHP-RSS combine, under the cover of Dharma Sansad, to construct Ram Temple at Ayodhya any time after March 12 next as an extremely irresponsible act and a blatant political step to help the BJP.

In a resolution, the committee meeting of the CPM condemned the announcement made by the Dharma Sansad at Allahabad on Saturday and said such an action would amount to building up communal passions in the country.

Party’s Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said the programme announced by the VHP of mass mobilisation for temple construction in the coming period was meant to foment communal tension and create polarisation for political purposes. The concern was not for Ram Temple, but for the elections in Uttar Pradesh, he remarked.

Restrain ‘hot heads’, Muslims tell govt

NEW DELHI, Jan 21 (UNI) — The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) today demanded that the Vajpayee government should deal firmly with the “hot heads” who have announced the Ram Temple construction from next year without waiting for the judicial verdict.

The AIMPLB executive, which met here for nearly four hours to review the situation in the light of the Dharma Sansad’s announcement of constructing Ram Temple in Ayodhya from March 12 next year, said this posed a challenge to the state and the Constitution.

“The atmosphere of communal amity is being vitiated by persistent and a well-orchestrated hate campaign by anti-social and anti-national elements for political ends who are threatening to flagrantly violate the basic values and features of the Constitution,” a strongly-worded resolution of the executive said.

Expressing the AIMPLB’s willingness to hold talks with the Centre on the Ayodhya dispute, General Secretary Maulana Nizamuddin said the government should first rein in the “hot heads” and create a conducive atmosphere for a meaningful dialogue.

The executive, attended by 40 of the 41 members, also adopted a five-point resolution which declared that the Babri Masjid site was “non-negotiable” and every effort shall be made for the restoration of the mosque.

The executive also resolved to constitute a five-member committee to monitor the situation arising out of “belligerent statements” by the forces who were directly responsible for the demolition of Babri Masjid.

The five members are Maulana Nizamuddin, Mr Yusuf H. Mucchhala, Maulana Sajjad Nomani, Mr Syed Shahabuddin and Mr Zafaryab Jilani. They have been authorised to hold talks with the government, if invited.

Regarding the talks initiated by BJP MP Vinay Katiyar with Muslim leaders, the board categorically declared that there would be no talks with those responsible for pulling down the mosque.

Maulana Nizamuddin said so far there had been no invitation to the board from the government or any other side for holding negotiations. “But, we have not slammed our doors on any negotiations with the government. We will treat with great respect any initiative by the government provided it is sincere,” he added.