New Delhi, September 13
In a do or die battle on Ayodhya, the Sangh Parivar has roped in Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani in its plan while distancing Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Mr Advani is our pointman for a Ram temple in Ayodhya, a clear signal has been given to the sangh followers by RSS supremo K. Sudarshan. Breaking tradition, Mr Sudarshan visited the residence of Mr Advani at Prithiviraj Road last Sunday. He had with him RSS general secretary Mohan Bhagwat and joint general secretaries H. V. Seshadri and Madandas Devi. Mr Sudarshan told Mr Advani that the Hindu agenda of Ram temple and a ban on cow slaughter must occupy the top priority of not only the BJP but a sincere effort must also be made to convince other allies of the ruling NDA also.

The VHP leaders like Mr Ashok Singhal, Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Dr Praveen Togadia have never made a secret of their liking for Mr Advani and dislike for Mr Vajpayee but now even the RSS has sent a firm and clear signal to this effect, sources said.

The coming Assembly elections in four Hindi-speaking states in north India later this year would decide finally the ultimate course for the Lok Sabha.

The VHP’s agitational programme, which would be announced after its Margdarshak Mandal’s likely meeting on September 15 and office-bearers’ meeting tomorrow, would test the credibility and effectiveness of the strategy during the Assembly elections.

After Sunday’s meeting, Mr Advani told BJP office-bearers in Bangalore on Wednesday that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) report on Ayodhya temple had vindicated the party’s stand. The ASI report has demonstrated the existence of a temple prior to the demolished Babri masjid at Ayodhya, Mr Advani told the meeting and added that it had strengthened the BJP’s cause.

Mr Advani further gave arguments for the party’s cadre that the ASI had undertaken excavation not at the government’s behest but on the high court’s asking.

At a press conference at the sangh’s Delhi headquarters yesterday, the RSS again butted in when its spokesman Ram Madhav extended support to the Vishva Hindu Parishad’s mass agitational programme for a Ram mandir at Ayodhya for mounting pressure on political parties for agreeing to facilitate its construction through a parliamentary legislation.

Today, the BJP officially joined the RSS in deciding to intensify the Ram mandir movement. Its general secretary Pramod Mahajan told newspersons after a meeting at BJP president M. Venkaiah Naidu’s residence here that “in the light of the ASI report, it was decided that the Ram mandir agitation should be intensified.”

The meeting was attended, among others, by the Deputy Prime Minister and top RSS leaders Mohan Bhagwat and Madandas Devi.

Replying to questions, Mr Mahajan said the BJP wanted an early resolution of the Ayodhya dispute through negotiations, court verdict or legislation.

“The BJP has no objection to the VHP’s proposed agitation in support of its demand for a Bill in Parliament,” he said, adding that the party wanted a settlement of the issue and legislation was one of the means.

But since the NDA allies did not favour such a Bill, “it will not be possible to bring a legislation till they change their mind,” he said.

On senior VHP leader Ashok Singhal’s reported demand for the resignation of Mr Vajpayee on the Ayodhya issue, Mr Mahajan sought to downplay it, saying “he has only expressed his views”.

He, however, said it was felt that the VHP and BJP should have direct contact rather than routing their views through the media.

Mr Madandas Devi said he did not support Mr Singhal’s demand.