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VHP temple date: March 12, 2002

Prem Panicker in Kumbh Nagri

The much-awaited Vishwa Hindu Parishad resolution regarding the date of construction of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya was formally moved at 3.12 pm on Saturday.

The resolution, signed by Mahant Paramhans Ramchandra Das, in his dual role of President, Srriram Janambhoomi Nyas and President, Sri Ramjanambhoomi Mandir Nirman Samiti and presented before the assembled sadhus, sants and savants by Acharya Dharmendra of the VHP's Marg Darshi Mandal, declares that on an auspicious day on or immediately after Maha Shivaratri (March 12) 2002, work will begin on the construction of the temple.

A year-long build-up has been envisaged, leading up to the March 12 deadline. The resolution, thus, said that "all concerned were on notice" (" Sambandith pakshon ko chetavani deti hai ", in the words of the resolution) that they were required to work from today (Sarurday) through to March 12, 2002 to ensure that all obstacles facing construction of a temple in Ayodhya were removed.

The public awareness programme pegs the first part of its operations on the fact that this year marks the Golden Jubilee of the praan-prathishta of the Shiv Temple at Somnath. Thus, it has been decided to "seek the blessings of Shiva for the proposed Ram Temple at Ayodhya" by carrying out a month-long programme of archanas and abhisheks dedicated to Shiva in temples across the country, concentrating most especially on the villages. This programme has been slotted for the period September 18-October 16.

Simultaneously, a task force of religious leaders will fan out across the country in an outreach programme, starting almost immediately. The programme is aimed at spreading the message of the urgent need to construct the Ram Temple. The religious leaders will carry with them idols of Sri Ram, which will be venerated at every single village. The organisers intend that the idol reach a minimum of 3,500 villages spread across the country. This programme is expected to last for five months, with a break in-between for the Chaturmas , period of four months when Hindu religious leaders are forbidden to travel.

Once Shiva's blessings are duly obtained, phase two of the programme will kick off with a Ram Jagran day -- November 26, 2001 -- when the VHP will coordinate mass chanting of Sri Ram's name and the 'Jay Ram Jay Ram Jay Jay Ram' mantra across the country.

The programme crescendoes with a Chetavani Sant Yatra in February 2002. As per the resolution, Hindu religious leaders of all types will assemble in Ayodhya by February 18, and march on Delhi, timing their arrival in the capital on February 25. This march is intended to intimate to the government the VHP's resolution to begin construction work on schedule.

And so on -- the resolution says -- to March 12, 2002.

"This is being announced at the Dharam Sansad, it has the backing of all religious leaders in the country, and the VHP does not have the history of back-tracking on any announcement made at the Dharam Sansad. The date is final, the plans are final and, come what may, our work will proceed on schedule," Acharya Dharmender announced before a packed house at the VHP's tent city in Kumbh Nagari.

Significantly, barely minutes before the resolution was officially moved in the Dharam Sansad, the Mahamandaleshwars of the Nirvani, Juna, Nirmohi, Atal and Digamber Akharas, all party to the original Akhara Parishad resolution to boycott the Dharam Sansad and dissociate from the VHP's temple plans, strode onto the dais to join over 100 other religious leaders forming the core of the VHP's Marg Darshak Mandal.

With this, the VHP has succeeded in bringing together pretty much every religious leader of note, with the exception of the Dwarka and Puri Sankaracharyas.

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