New Delhi, February 21
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today threatened that tomorrow’s meeting of the Dharam Sansad here would take “unprecedented and hard decisions” on the Ayodhya issue even as it revealed that a court was in possession of a scientifically conducted probe on the Ramjanmabhoomi temple, the findings of which would bring out a verdict in favour of the Hindus.
In what is being perceived as an attempt to pressurise the government to hand over the undisputed land for the construction of the Ram temple, VHP working president Ashok Singhal said about 150 prominent saints from across the country, who attended the VHP’s Marg Darshak Mandal meeting here today, expressed anger and a feeling of being “cheated” by the government.
Addressing a press conference along with Swami Avaidhyanath and Swami Parmanand after the meeting, he said the mandal could not pass any resolution as discussions on various options, including some “violent measures” to be adopted, were “still continuing”.
“The matter would be discussed at the two-day Dharam Sansad meeting of about 10,000 saints beginning tomorrow and a decision will be announced during the conclave,” he said.
“Saints are losing patience and today they declared their intention not to attend any further Dharam Sansad meeting if this one fails to take any concrete and important decision on reclaiming the birthplace of Lord Rama,” Mr Singhal said.
Mahant Avaidhyanath, former MP from Gorakhpur, targeted the Vajpayee government, saying that it had failed to “restore the lost honour of Hindus” which was “expected” of it.
He cited important developments like the opening of locks at the temple, allowing of prayers and destruction of the structure that had taken place during the tenure of Congress governments.
“We regret that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is engaged in appeasing the minorities and dishonouring Hindus,” he said, alleging that the government was “not cooperating”.
Declaring that enough time had been
given to the government to resolve the matter, he said the saints were “ready for most harsh decisions and all sacrifices, including self-immolations and countrywide agitations, if the construction of the temple does not start immediately.”
He said the matter could be resolved in one day if Parliament, with “80 per cent Hindus”, passed a resolution to allow the temple construction as was done in the Shah Bano case. “This time it will be a decisive fight, the last struggle,” asserted Mahant Parmanand. Later, quoting a study ordered by the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on the disputed site, the VHP leader said the laser deep penetration method had proved that remains of a temple lies beneath the disputed site at Ayodhya.
