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VHP strikes conciliatory note on Ayodhya issue

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Ram Janambhoomi Nyas on Tuesday struck a conciliatory note stating that their programme on March 15 would be restricted to "offering" a shila (carved stone) at the acquired land adjacent to the disputed site in Ayodhya.

RJN president Ramchandra Das Paramhans would lead around 2,000 people to the site to offer a shila to the Receiver (government) against a proper receipt and hold a prayer there, VHP president Ashok Singhal told a press conference in Ayodhya.

He said if the authorities prevented it, they would "court arrest peacefully".

Asserting that the VHP and RJN did not want any confrontation with the government, particularly when "friend" Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was under "severe pressure", Singhal said: "Hindus have traditionally been tolerant and non-violent and we want to strengthen that."

"I have promised the government and even told Uttar Pradesh Governor Vishnukant Shastri that whatever programme we conduct, it will be peaceful, extremely peaceful," said the VHP leader.

We do not want ashanti (unrest) because it stops development of the country," Singhal said, adding Pakistan did not want India to progress and was instrumental in spreading violence in the country.

He said the bogey of Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid issue had been raised by the politicians because of vote-bank politics.

"Vote-bank politics is the main cause of ashanti in the country and there will be peace if this ends," he said, adding Hindus and Muslims can live in peace and harmony, but "politicians do not allow it".

"Hindus and Muslims have to live together in this country," he said, hoping that the Muslims would also realise this fact.

Singhal said Vajpayee was under pressure on four counts -- from the opposition, the National Democratic Alliance allies, from the bureaucrats and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

"We do not want to complicate Atalji's problems," he said, adding, "so there has to be some way out."

Singhal claimed that the bureaucracy was responsible for "heightening tension" over the VHP's programme.

"Even the prime minister is under dabav (pressure) from the bureaucrats," he claimed, adding, "I don't know what they are fearful of."

To a question, he said there was no need to bring more Ram sevaks into Ayodhya from outside as the "40,000 citizens of the city are all Ram bhakts".

Paramhans, who was also present at the press conference, said he remained committed to the construction of Ram temple irrespective of the fate of the Vajpayee government.

He also accused the Muslims of "humiliating" the Kanchi seer by rejecting his compromise formula.

The March 15 programme had been decided after assurances from the prime minister on resolving the matter before March 12, he said.

Paramhans said that the Nyas had so far posed "no challenge" to the government over the Ayodhya issue.

He also insisted that the Muslims had no claim over "even an inch" of the undisputed land.

Singhal said the status quo of the disputed land would be maintained till the court decision. "We are not going to touch the disputed land," he asserted.

PTI

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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