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Rediff.com  » News » Ayodhya: VHP demands special session of Parliament

Ayodhya: VHP demands special session of Parliament

By Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi
Last updated on: September 15, 2003 21:47 IST
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The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Monday asked the government to summon a special session of Parliament before October 15 this year to enact a law to facilitate construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and hand over the disputed land to the Ram Janambhoomi Nyas.

The VHP Committee, which met in Delhi, said if the government failed to hand over the disputed land its 'Rambhakts' will march on to Ayodhya and start construction.

Committee chairman Mahant Avaidyanath told the press that the situation in Ayodhya was different after the Archaeological Survey of India report.

"The patience of the Hindu community has been worn thin because Muslim leaders like Syed Shah Geelani have said that they will fight (against temple construction) till the next 25 years," he said.

"We appeal to all political parties and the Muslim community for the temple construction. Otherwise, the might of the Hindus will be witnessed again as was witnessed in December 6, 1992," he added.

VHP chief Ashok Singhal, however, was at pains to clarify that the movement for the temple will be peaceful.

When told that Mahant Avaidyanath had specifically talked about Hindu might and December 6, 1992, Singhal said the former had referred to the numerical strength of the Hindus on the day the Babri Masjid was demolished.

"We will carry out the temple movement according to our constitutional rights in a peaceful manner," he added.

He said the VHP's sankalp sutra (thread of resolve) to build the temple was going on involving two crore people all over the country and continue till October 2.

Singhal lashed out against the Bharatiya Janata Party when asked whether the VHP would consult it for construction of the temple at Ayodhya.

"Why should we consult the BJP? Let it first include the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and then we will consult it," he said.

The new chief of the Ram janambhhomi Nyas, Mahant Nrityagopal Das said the Ayodhya temple movement was not against anybody or any party.

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Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi