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Ram Janambhoomi Trust, VHP to await court verdict: Kanchi Seer

Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati on Tuesday said that the Ram Janambhoomi Trust and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have agreed that they would not do anything in the disputed site till a final court verdict is delivered.

After hectic consultations with Hindu religious leaders, VHP, Muslim leaders and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the mediator in the Ayodhya imbroglio said, "The Trust has agreed that till the final verdict of the court comes, they will not interfere in the matter (disputed site). They will not even talk about it."

He said that the Trust chief Ramchandra Paramhans has given a written undertaking in this regard, which he would be giving to the prime minister, who would consult allies in the National Democratic Alliance before coming to the Parliament with the government's decision on this issue.

The Kanchi seer said the that karsevaks will begin bhoomi pujan on March 15 and continue the havan and recitation for 100 days till June two, by which time the VHP expects the undisputed land to be given for beginning temple construction work.

Earlier in the day, the Seer met members of the All India Muslim Personal Law board and Babri Masjid Action Committee, who have agreed to consider the latest proposal mooted by him.

At a separate press conference, the VHP maintained that it has not taken any decision on the question of accepting a court verdict. The religious leaders will decide on it when the proposal comes, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore said.

Jayendra Saraswati also read out from a letter written by Paramhans to the prime minister in which the Trust has agreed to maintain status quo in the disputed site.

It also wanted that the government should permit movement of puja and temple construction materials from March 15 and should give an assurance to this effect by March 12.

It also wanted that there should be no other obstruction in the work of the Trust. Besides, the Trust demanded handing over of the undisputed area to it by June two when the 100-day Poorna Ahuti Yagna would be completed.

It also wanted all restrictions on local residents and pilgrims coming from outside to Ayodhya to be immediately removed.

It also felt that efforts should be made for an expeditious court verdict on the basis of evidence and documents. The pontiff parried reporters' questions that the 'VHP undertaking' was nothing, but its well-known demands. He also skirted a question as to what the prime minister told him by way of assurance on their demands.

The Shankaracharya also said that the Trust would be petitioning the prime minister for handing over of the acquired land, which the government should have no problem in giving 'as the Supreme Court had held that the government could give the acquired land to any party'.

Muslim Personal Law Board convenor S Q R Illyas said after the meeting with Shankaracharya that the Board would be calling an emergency meeting in the next few days to consider his proposals and would inform him of its decision before March 15.

''Under the proposal, the VHP has agreed to construct a boundary wall outside the masjid area. The fate of the disputed site would be decided by a court verdict and the VHP has agreed to abide by it,'' he said.

Former President R Venkataraman, former Uttar Pradesh governor Ramesh Bhandari, former Chief Justice of India Rangnath Mishra were among those who participated in the discussions with the Board members. Officer on Special Duty in Prime Minister's office Sudheendra Kulkarni was also present.

Earlier Report:
Fernandes meets Shankaracharya

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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