M A I N   N E W S

BJP hails vacation of stay, VHP prepares for struggle
Faraz Ahmad/TNS

New Delhi, September 28
The BJP today welcomed the Supreme Court vacation of stay on the Allahabad High Court judgment in the Ayodhya title suit, but the VHP warned of a nationwide agitation if any attempt to obstruct construction of the Ram Temple was made.

Soon after the judgment, a pall of gloom descended upon the VHP Media Centre that has been decorated with tents and lights since September 24, the original date of the verdict. Today, a VHP source indicated that no important leader may be present on September 30 as they were all going to prepare for a countrywide agitation apprehending an adverse judgment. “Tomorrow onwards you will not find any of us here,” said a VHP leader, without disclosing where they were going.

He suggested that none of them were heading towards Ayodhya and, therefore, there may not be much action in Ayodhya on September 30. Instead, he hinted that they suspected the judgment would favour rivals, the Sunni Wakf Board.

On record, VHP general secretary Praveen Togadia said, “Four lakh Hindus have sacrificed their lives in the last 450 years for the construction of the Ram Temple. Therefore, we will welcome any process which facilitates early construction of the temple.”

The Mandir protagonists hope to press the government to pass a law to build the temple, citing the Shah Bano case. It will be cited frequently after September 30, sources indicated. Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, “The BJP welcomes the Supreme Court verdict, which has ended the uncertainty. We will now wait for the main judgment.”