New Delhi, March 2
Despite fervent appeal from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today declared its resolve to go ahead with its plan to shift carved pillars to the Ram Janmabhoomi site on March 15.

Addressing a Press conference here, VHP spokesman Veereshwar Dwivedi demanded a written assurance from the Prime Minister that the government would allow the VHP to conduct its programme on March 15, return the 43 acres of land belonging to it acquired by the Government within three months and lift the recently imposed restrictions in Ayodhya.

“If the Prime Minister gives a written assurance on these three counts by March 12, religious leaders would consider postponing their agitational programme for the construction of Ram Temple at the Mandir Nirman Samiti’s meeting in Ayodhya on March 14,” Mr Dwivedi said.

He said the VHP would convert its March 15 programme to a “symbolic” ceremony, if the Government gave it the assurance.

Asked what would be the VHP’s response in the event of the government rejecting the outfit’s demand, the VHP spokesman said: “the religious leaders will decide the future course of action at the March 14 meeting.”

Following hectic parleys with RSS leaders, who had agreed to mediate on the issue on Vajpayee’s request, VHP leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore had yesterday said it was willing to consider postponing its temple construction plan from March 15 if the government or the RSS gave it a written assurance that worshipping of pillars would be allowed in the acquired land in Ayodhya within three months.

Asked about the change in its stand within a day, Mr Dwivedi said probably the media did not understand what Kishore wanted to say.

Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is mediating between the Vajpayee Government and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on the Ayodhya issue, tonight expressed the hope that a mechanism would be worked out to resolve the crisis within a couple of days.

After a meeting with the Prime Minister here this evening, RSS joint general secretary Madan Das Devi told newspersons that Mr Vajpayee would have a meeting with the ‘saints’ in a day or two and the Sangh was confident that a solution would be worked out.

“We are here to mediate and help resolve this problem to the satisfaction of both sides,” he said adding while the government should make efforts from its side, the religious leaders and the VHP should respond positively to it.

The RSS side was represented by Mr Devi and another joint general secretary H V Seshadri. The meeting was also attended by BJP president K Jana Krishnamurthy and former party chief Kushabhau Thakre.

Meanwhile, the VHP has called an emergency meeting in the capital tomorrow to discuss the issue and Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas President Mahant Paramhans Ramachandra Das is likely to come from Ayodhya to participate in it.

Asked whether any formula had been worked out to resolve the impasse, he said “it is for the VHP and religious leaders to discuss the issue. They will announce it after their meeting with the Prime Minister.”

He said the VHP leaders were “sensible people and we are fully hopeful that some solution would be worked out.”

Today’s meeting between the Prime Minister and RSS leaders followed hectic parleys between Sangh leaders including RSS chief K S Sudarshan and VHP International Working President Ashok Singhal. Mr Singhal also had a meeting with central office-bearers of the organisation here this morning in which the “formula” was discussed.

Mr Vajpayee had sought RSS intervention on Thursday in the wake of the Godhra killing of Ram sevaks and mounting tension in Ayodhya ahead of the VHP’s plan to shift the carved pillars from its workshop at Karsewakpuram to the Ram Janambhoomi site at 2.15 pm on March 15.