M A I N   N E W S

Mahant Paramhans dead
Vajpayee, Advani, Joshi to pay last respects
Tribune News Service

Ayodhya/New Delhi, July 31
The chief of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, Mahant Ram Chandra Paramhans, died after a protracted illness early today.

The cremation will be held tomorrow on the banks of the Saryu river, VHP general secretary Praveen Togadia told reporters here.

Paramhans, 93, who was held up as the flag-bearer of the long-running campaign to build a temple on the site of the destroyed Babri mosque in Ayodhya, was suffering from liver cancer, according to doctors who attended on him.

The end was peaceful, said Dr Umesh Srivastava, one of the doctors.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will pay his last respects to the mahant at Ayodhya before his last rites are performed tomorrow.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani and Human Resource Development Minister Murali Manohar Joshi, official sources said.

Expressing shock, Mr Vajpayee said the contribution of the Hindu leader towards the Ramjanmabhoomi movement would be etched in golden letters.

Describing him as “firm like a mountain and affectionate like the Saryu river,” the Prime Minister recalled that the mahant had been benevolent towards him and specially sent his blessings when he was going on a foreign visit.

In his condolences, Mr Advani said with the death of Sri Paramhans, the country had lost a Vedic scholar who had also excelled in journalism and administration.

Meanwhile, Mr Advani cancelled his plans to go to Ayodhya today in view of the ongoing Parliament session and a Cabinet meeting.

Expressing shock at the mahant’s demise, the Human Resource Development Minister described him as a “spiritual leader of a very high order”.

“He dedicated his whole life for building a Ram temple at Ayodhya,” Mr Joshi said, adding that Mahant Paramhans’ death was a great loss to him because of his long association with the mahant.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad mourned the demise of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas chief, describing him as “sanskriti purush” who had a command over Hindu religious scriptures.

BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu described his death as a “great loss to the nation.”