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Clarify statement on abiding by court verdict in temple case, Congress tells PM

The Congress has asked Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee whether his statement that he would abide by the judicial verdict on the Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue was a "strategy" to survive in power or a categorical assurance given to the people of the country.

Party spokesman Salman Khurshid said Vajpayee's statement to go by the judicial verdict was indeed welcome, and the Congress believed it was a solemn assurance by the prime minister. "We want to know if his statement came because of pressures from some of his supporting parties. We hope he realises his responsibility," he added.

Describing the temple issue as 'sensitive' and having a bearing on the relationship between communities, the spokesman said the Congress shared the concern of other Opposition parties that the people should not be divided on this issue.

Khurshid said the political parties must be alert in view of the changed circumstances. For the first time the Bharatiya Janata Party was heading governments in both Uttar Pradesh and at the Centre. The state had the same chief minister in Kalyan Singh, who had committed contempt of the highest court of the land on the issue. Besides, Home Minister L K Advani was facing criminal charges relating to the demolition of the Babri mosque, he said.

He said the claims of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the allied organisations that work on the Ram temple was going on for the past eight years, were ''misleading.'' Activities had reached a 'feverish' pitch only after the BJP government came to power at the Centre. "We can't remain bystanders when provocative statements are being issued by the RSS Parivar,'' he said.

He said his party would oppose any move to hand over or allow construction on the 64-acre-land around the disputed site at Ayodhya.

UNI

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