M A I N   N E W S

Govt can’t be sacrificed for Ram temple: Advani

Hyderabad, August 9
Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani today rejected the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) demand of a legislation on Ram temple, saying that the NDA government could not be “sacrificed’’ to fulfil it.

“The VHP had demanded a legislation in Parliament to solve the Ayodhya imbroglio even at the cost of sacrificing the NDA government. It had also said the elections should be held if the Bill was not passed in Parliament,’’ Mr Advani told mediapersons on his way to Andhra Pradesh capital in a special aircraft.

He categorically refused to bring in any legislation on the Ayodhya issue, which he said was ‘’bound’’ to be defeated in the House.

“There is no unanimity among the NDA on the issue and the Congress is also not in favour of the legislation,” he asserted.

The VHP will discuss the issue in the coming meeting of the “Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Nirmaan Ucchadhikar Samiti, scheduled to be held on September 13.

“In our view, the best way to solve the issue is through talks,’’ Mr Advani said. When asked about the talks, the Deputy Prime Minister said one round of negotiations had just got over recently.

To a question on holding the Lok Sabha and state Assembly poll simultaneously, Mr Advani said attempts to evolve a consensus on the issue were continuing. ‘’The BJP and the NDA will soon hold consultations on the issue,’’ he added.

A bill to have open voting in the Rajya Sabha elections will soon be introduced, Mr Advani said. A proposal to fix the size of the Union and state Council of Ministers at 10 per cent of the strength of the House was being examined by a parliamentary committee.

He expressed satisfaction over Parliament passing several Bills related to electoral reforms in the ongoing session. These include funding of political parties, proxy voting by armed forces personnel, checking of money flow in the Rajya Sabha poll and allowing candidates to contest for the Upper House from any state.

Referring to the recent increased people-to-people contacts in context of the Indo-Pak relations, Mr Advani said, “These are developments which indicate lessening of tension, though on the ground no perceptible change is evident in the incidents of cross-border terrorism.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad today made a tryst with modern mass transport system with Mr Advani flagging off a multi-modal transport system (MMTS) train at a colourful function at the Secunderabad railway station here.

The Rs 162-crore joint venture is the first mass transport system that seeks to integrate rail infrastructure with a strong road service network to provide an affordable and efficient commuter transport system.— PTI, UNI