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withdrawn.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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