Sandesh Prabhudesai
19 October 2000
Perhaps in the similar manner in which the Babri masjid was demolished, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has decided to begin construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya in the presence of large number of kar sevaks.
The two-day VHP meet, which concluded in Goa today, however failed to declare the much-awaited date of beginning the construction. The only decision was to constitute Ram Mandir Nirman Samiti and mobilise kar sevaks.
"We will announce the exact date and action plan only at the Dharm Sansad scheduled on 9 January in Prayag", said VHP working president Ashok Singhal at a crowded press conference at Ramnathi temple complex here.
The meeting has planned to recruit kar sevaks from three lakh villagers from all over the country, in whose presence they would begin the temple construction. "The Samiti will immediately take up this work by forming committees in all the states and villages", said Singhal.
Going against his own statement that the meet would prepare a proposal including the date and action plan to be forwarded to the Dharm Sansad for taking final decision, Singhal in fact claimed that he had never made such statement.
"There is no second thought on beginning the temple construction", he reiterated. In fact even the resolution, which was distributed almost 45 minutes late at the press conference, simply demanded that the date be announced on the occasion of mahakumbh.
Singhal even dismissed the contention that the announcement is being postponed in view of not embarrassing the BJP-led government or giving them enough time to think about the issue. "We are not bothered what the political parties think about it", he added.
While elaborating on the appeal he had made at the inaugural function to the government to take initiative to build the Ram temple, Singhal said the VHP is disappointed not with the BJP alone but the whole Parliament and its Hindu members.
"We expect the whole Parliament to discuss the issue and authorise construction of the temple. No political party would benefit by simply delaying the issue", he said, while also denying that any differences had arisen at the summit on announcing the date.
The resolution passed in this regard also asked why the government cannot permit Ram temple construction when construction of Somnath temple was allowed 50 years ago and former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi has allowed the shilanyas of Ram temple on 9 November 1989.
Ramchandradas Paramhans, the 90-year old shri mahant from Ayodhya who has been made the samiti president, however expressed confidence that the BJP would do what they feel right once they come to power with absolute majority at the centre. "You should understand that they are leading a coalition government today", he said.
Claiming that the Ram temple already exists at the site with even pooja being performed as per the high court order, Ramchandradas however said the construction would only mean providing grandeur to the small temple, which has already been built there.
Alleging that there is a political design behind delaying the pending court case on the issue, he also said the Samiti would go ahead with the construction, no matter what the court, the Parliament or the government decides about it.
"We will not accept the court order if it does not allow us to build the temple", announced Ramchandradas. Adding to that, Singhal argued that no case against the Ramjanmbhoomi exists since it is not being filed against the deity, which is the owner of the site.
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