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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Friday adopted a defiant stand and maintained that the action of Ashok Singhal and other VHP leaders in Ayodhya early this week did not amount to violation of the orders of the Supreme Court of India.
Earlier in the day, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had filed a First Information Report against the VHP leaders involved in the incident for breaching the security cordon around the disputed site.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Acharya Giriraj Kishore, member of parliament and leader of VHP, said his organisation is committed to construction of Ram Temple on the disputed site.
"Governments come and governments go. But the devotees of Ram Lala would construct his temple on the site. No power in the world can stop the temple construction on that place. This is the only solution to the problem. If the Hindus could accept the division of India, why can't Muslims accept the construction of Ram Temple at the place of the disputed site. The question of reconstruction of Babri Masjid does not arise at all," Giriraj Kishore said.
He refuted the allegation that the CRPF men posted outside the disputed structure had committed a security lapse by allowing Singhal and others to go inside the temple.
"I have the reports that those who went there did not go inside the sanctum sanctorum. They went as far as possible. Since Singhalji could not see Ram Lala from a distance therefore the security men took him near the place of worship, so that he could have a glimpse of Ram Lala. I could not go because I was unable to jump over the wall, so I had to remain outside," he said.
When his attention was drawn to the statement made by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the incident took place because of a security lapse, Giriraj Kishore said that Vajpayeeji might not have the correct information.
"When we reached there, the policemen on duty rang up their officers. These officers said that they would reach the spot in a short time. But when they did not come after almost half an hour, we went in. We were there inside for over an hour and performed Puja," he said.
Refuting charges of contempt of court, he said, "We have not committed contempt of the court. The Supreme Court has clearly said that the devotees should be allowed to go as near as possible to have darshan of Ram Lala."
He did not agree with Advani's statement that whatever happened was unfortunate.
"What we have done will pave the way for other devotees to have the darshan of Ram Lala from nearest possible point. After all the idol of Ram Lala is there for worshipping. I demand that the government should set up a committee of Dharmacharyas who would decide on this matter. How can a magistrate decide on the matters of worshipping and when the temple should open and when it should close?" he questioned.
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