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Paramhans threatens to end life

K G Suresh and Sanjay Pandey in Ayodhya

In an attempt to put pressure on the government, a desperate Mahant Ramchandra Das Paramhans, president of the Ram Janambhoomi Nyas, threatened on Thursday to end his life if prevented from moving out of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad workshop on Friday to donate a carved stone as planned.

"If I'm prevented at the workshop from proceeding according to the scheduled programme, I'll consume some chemical and sacrifice my life for the sake of Lord Ram and the temple. I'll not allow any policeman to touch me," the mahant told the Press Trust of India.

The mahant has made the workshop his temporary residence.

But if he is allowed to move out, the mahant said, he was prepared to go to jail or face the batons and bullets of the security forces.

Asserting that offering puja was his birthright as a devout Hindu, Paramhans said he planned to offer a carved stone to the receiver of the acquired land (the Faizabad divisional commissioner) or any government representative or the priest of the makeshift temple against a proper receipt.

The Ram Janambhoomi Nyas leader said that by offering a shila (carved stone), he would not be violating Wednesday's Supreme Court directive to maintain the status quo on the acquired land.

"At the moment, I am neither asking for any portion of the acquired land nor permission to construct a temple. I only want to offer a shila, which will be used in the proposed temple," he said.

"I will go at 2.15pm tomorrow with the Ram shila with four brahmins well-versed in the Vedas to donate the shila to the receiver. If the police stops us, within a few moments I will end my life."

After a meeting of sants gathered in the town, Vishwa Hindu Parishad international working president Ashok Singhal told reporters, "We are with the mahant and the programme will go ahead. If we are prevented, we will court arrest peacefully."

Paramhans conceded that the time was not right nor the atmosphere conducive at the moment for starting construction of the temple.

Accusing the police of preventing "dharmacharyas" and devotees from entering Ayodhya, he charged Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with forsaking principles and religion for the sake of power.

"Not even during the British Raj or Muslim rule were Hindus prevented from offering worship to their gods," he said.

Meanwhile, the government continued its efforts to pacify the mahant in a bid to prevent any untoward incident. Several government officials held closed-door meetings with Paramhans at the VHP workshop with regard to Friday's programme.

PTI

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