Ayodhya, March 14
In an apparent attempt to put pressure on the Vajpayee government, Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (RJN) president Mahant Ramchander Das Paramhans today threatened to end his life if he is prevented from donating a shila (carved pillar) at Ram Lalla’s makeshift temple tomorrow.

Interestingly, his threat came soon after the Faizabad Divisional Commissioner A K Gupta said he had no problem in accepting the donation of shila outside the acquired land of 67.703 acres at Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex.

“My programme for tomorrow stands. As per the schedule I along with the members of the RJN will leave at 2.15 pm to donate shila. If we are stopped by the police then I will consume chemical and sacrifice my life for the sake of Lord Ram and construction of Ram Temple, a visibly upset Mahant told a crowded press conference at RJN’s workshop here soon after a meeting of the Mandir Nirman Samiti (temple construction committee).

The assertion from the RJN chief came even as Union Home Minister L.K. Advani and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh had a telephonic talk with him requesting him not to go ahead with his programme. According to sources, an angry Mahant Ramchander Das refused to speak to senior VHP leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore, who telephoned him this afternoon and instead had a one-to-one closed-door meeting with VHP international working president Ashok Singhal.

The half-an-hour-long meeting was attended among others by Mr Singhal, VHP Joint Secretary Rajender Kumar Pankaj, Jagadguru Ramanujacharya, Mahant Kaushal Kishore Das and Mahant Siya Kishori Saran.

Asserting that it was the birth right of every Hindu to conduct puja and give donations, the RJN chief, who has been aggressively involved in the temple movement for nearly two decades now, said he was not afraid of facing lathi charge or bullets, but would not allow the police to touch him.

With Mr Singhal seated beside him, the RJN president reiterated that he would give the donation of shila to the Receiver (Faizabad Divisional Commissioner) of the Ram Lalla Temple and obtain a receipt for it.

Accusing Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of trying to retain power by putting unwarranted restrictions in Ayodhya, Mahant Ramchander Das in a dramatic manner said: “It seems today is going to be my last meeting with mediapersons.”

Mr Singhal, who kept mum during the entire press conference, later told a small group of mediapersons that VHP was totally in consonance with RJN president and would support tomorrow’s programme.

When contacted Mr Gupta told The Tribune that if the District Magistrate permitted Mahant Ramchander Das to carry the shilas outside the workshop and that it was offered to him outside the acquired land of 67.703 acres without violating the apex court orders, “I have no problem in accepting it.”

Asked whether he would receive the shila as the Receiver of Ram Lalla’s makeshift temple, Mr Gupta clarified “only when the donation is made in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex it will be accepted by me as a Receiver, but if it is made anywhere outside the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid complex then I will be accepting it as a Commissioner.”

Earlier, there was hectic activity in the workshop, which has been made the temporary residence by Mahant Ramchander Das, with local residents and sants participating in the kirtan organised there.