M A I N   N E W S

I have failed on Ayodhya: PM

Lucknow, February 16
In a significant statement on the Ayodhya issue, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today conceded that his efforts to finding a solution had failed and the only course open now was to await a court verdict for which two more judges would be appointed soon to the Ayodhya Bench.

He made it clear at a press conference here that no decision had been taken yet on the VHP demand for the land around the disputed site sought by it for Ram temple construction and said various documents were being examined to reach a conclusion. “There is no time frame for settling the matter,” he said in reply to a question.

He also expressed confidence about the BJP and its allies forming a government in Uttar Pradesh and lashed out at Pakistan, saying that President Pervez Musharraf has lost credibility.

“My efforts have failed due to the unrelenting attitude of both the parties and the only course left to resolve the imbroglio now is to await the court verdict,” he said in reply to a question on the Ayodhya issue in the light of the VHP’s threat to begin construction work from March 15, irrespective of a solution to the dispute.

In the midst of an election campaign, Mr Vajpayee expressed confidence that the BJP and its allies would get a majority in the Assembly elections in UP and parried a question whether the party would ally with the BSP in case of a fractured verdict to form a government. He was also asked whether President’s rule was a possibility in such an eventuality.

On the Law Ministry examining the legal aspects of the VHP demand to hand over the undisputed land around the disputed site, Mr Vajpayee said the government had not arrived at any decision on the issue but a lot of documents were being examined.

On the delay in the court verdict, he said two more judges were needed in the Ayodhya Bench and hoped the vacancies would be filled soon.

Brushing aside the VHP threat to go ahead with their temple construction plan irrespective of the possibility of its fallout on the NDA government, Mr Vajpayee said sarcastically “We only expected this kind of threat from the sadhus and saints. We don’t mind the threats.”

He said a repetition of December 6, 1992, would not be allowed this time. PTI