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Week-long march to announce
Ram temple construction

He reiterated that Kashi and Mathura were also on the VHP's agenda.

"They are all trespassed upon. They have to be returned to their real owners and if sadhus decide (to do so), no power on earth can stop them," he said.

The sadhus are expected to reach Delhi on February 25 (next year) and formally announce the temple construction in Ayodhya, Singhal told reporters in Coimbatore.

Stating that construction work for the ground floor of the temple had already been finished, Singhal said work on structures for the first floor would be started soon.

Asked about opposition from the Vajpayee-led government to the building of the temple, Singhal claimed not only the government but also Congress wanted the temple to be built there.

"I do not think there will be any opposition once the works start. Anybody trying to hinder the construction will be paid back in the same coin," Singhal said.

Asked about the possibility of the construction activity having an adverse affect on the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, Singhal said, "We do not know what happens to the BJP or Congress."

Singhal said a three-day conference would be held in Delhi from May four to take stock of the VHP's 24,000 seva projects.

He said VHP also planned to hold Lok jagaran (people's awakening) programmes, where 20 million persons will chant the Vijay mantra (Ram mantra) in 200,000 villages for two months from October to December this year.

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