New Delhi, March 12
The Centre is apprehensive of the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s real motives in Ayodhya on March 15 as the VHP has instructed its cadres to be clad in jeans and enter Ayodhya in large numbers by hook or by crook.

Well-placed sources here said the VHP was “really desperate” to have ‘bhoomi pujan’ done at the undisputed land in Ayodhya on March 15 as their leadership had been told by astrologers that if the temple construction work did not start at the auspicious time on March 15, the temple would never be constructed. The auspicious time is being kept a closely guarded secret, but it is believed that it is just after 2 p.m. on March 15.

The sources said the VHP had started issuing instructions to its cadres two days ago saying that they should not dress up like kar sevaks. The do’s and don’ts informally suggested for beating the restrictions for entering Ayodhya are : do not wear saffron-coloured clothes, avoid applying tilak on forehead and preferably dress like a student or a traveller or a journalist.

The Vajpayee government is understood to have got wind of the VHP plans and, therefore, has turned Ayodhya into a cantonment. Besides, the government has taken cognisance of the fact that the VHP leadership has been shifting stands faster than sand dunes.

Though outwardly the VHP leadership has been making radically divergent statements and are aparently speaking in different voices, it may well be under a plan to confuse the government.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee held a high-level meeting at his residence tonight on the eve of the Supreme Court hearing in the Ayodhya case.