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Lift ban on pilgrims travelling to Ayodhya: VHP

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Friday asked the Union government to lift the ban on pilgrims travelling to Ayodhya and the curbs imposed on its residents.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia took the government to task for terrorising pilgrims and the people of Ayodhya for 18 days 'by imposing restrictions on their movement'.

"There was undeclared curfew in the city," he said.

He asserted that the VHP would not rest until the Ram temple comes up at the place where the idol of lord Ram is now in place (in the acquired land).

"The next course of action would be decided by the sants. Meanwhile, on Ramnavami (a festival), Hindus would fly saffron flags in their houses to express their resolve to build the Ram temple," he said.

Togadia revealed that the VHP had collected Rs 160 million for construction of the temple.

He denied that the VHP's decision to carry out shila daan at a venue away from the acquired land was a climbdown.

"Once the Supreme Court declared that the entire land is disputed, the question of carrying out a puja there did not arise," he said.

The Ayodhya Issue: Complete Coverage

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