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July 8, 1998

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Ram temple within three years regardless of Supreme Court, says VHP

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today declared that it would construct the Ram temple at Ayodhya within three years, as soon as stone-carving is complete, irrespective of what the Supreme Court says.

Ram Janambhoomi Nyas president Ram Chandradas Paramhans told the media in New Delhi that the decision was taken at a two-day meeting of the Marg Darshak Mandal of the VHP. The meeting was attended by more than 70 sadhus and leaders of the VHP from all over the country.

He said stone-carving work was on in full swing, and would take another three years to complete. It would take another six months to build the temple after that. He said those who attended the meeting had favoured going ahead with the construction as soon as preparations were complete.

He announced that the VHP would not construct the temple with the backing of the government at the Centre. ''The construction would begin whenever religious heads direct.''

The Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre has promised to abide by the Supreme Court's direction, but the VHP says the court does not have any authority over religious matters. ''God is higher than the Constitution,'' VHP working president Ashok Singhal has said.

The matter has been referred to the Supreme Court, but the apex court has not set any date for giving a decision.

Commenting on the BJP's policy on the issue, the Paramhans said the party's behaviour was not suspect at all. He, however, said in a democracy, government worked on the basis of majority and the BJP depended upon other parties for a majority.

He said that until now the court decision had been in favour of the VHP, and expressed hope that any future decisions would also be in its favour.

Asked if the Muslim community withdrew its claim on Ayodhya, would the VHP give up the issues of Kashi and Mathura, he said Kashi and Mathura had always been on the VHP agenda and would not be withdrawn. He announced that the VHP would also take up other similar issues. The Mansarovar issue would be taken up with China. He described as unfortunate the government control on various religious places in many states.

Describing as hollow and regrettable the attitude of various opposition parties after the Pokhran nuclear tests, he said the parties had tried to raise the issue of temple construction after the tests.

Refuting the statement by former defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, published in a section of the media, that he had stopped the work on stone-carving when he was Uttar Pradesh chief minister, the Paramhans said stone-carving was on even when P V Narasimha Rao was the prime minister.

UNI

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