LUCKNOW: The Congress (I) leadership is said to have given the green signal to the district party Office bearers of Faizabad Ayodhya to extend support to the proposed Yagna next month. The yagna is planned by the controversial godman, Chandraswamy, to wean away sants in favor of the Center’s proposed trust for Ram temple.
A meeting of the Congress(I) of Faizabad was held after ‘instructions’ from the UPCC(I) chief, Mahavir Prasad, to discuss in what way the yagna, whose success would strengthen the Center’s plan for the temple trust could be held. Several of the local party leaders reportedly advised caution. With the Congress(I) help more or less assured, there is every likelihood of the twice postponed yagna being held in the holy town, A section of the Ayodhya sants is being courted by the Congress(I) through Swamy Swarupan and, who has never disowned his as association with the Congress. A number of them had been visiting New Delhi often, reportedly on the invitation from the Central leaders, but, most of there were asked to meet Chandraswamy. The Godman has been on the job to set up a platform of the sants opposed to the VHP. He made a three day visit to Ayodhya in December 1990 when the VHP had organized a yagna there. The visit was reportedly at the instance of the then Prime Minister, Chandra Sekhar. But, Bajrang Dal workers did not allow him to go near the yagna spot. His efforts to rope in local sants did not meet with much Success. Chandraswamy, however, had expressed himself in favor of Ram temple. Center’s search for sants with credibility has not been successful. Four sants, who are eager to join the proposed trust, are controversial. The administration also conveyed this to the Center, But, the game plan of Chandraswamy ts to demonstrate his sway over the sants. None is sure about the name Or nature of the yagna (Rudra, Surya or Ram) not even the local sants, who have declared support for it. The managers of Chandraswamy are making frequent visits to Ayodhya. Chandraswamy’s proteges, as in the past, have enlisted support of some student leaders. But many are preparing to oppose it. Therefore, the Faizabad Administration is keeping is fingers crossed.
Local sants from Ayodhya were taken in several buses to Barhat in Rajasthan for “Shradh” of Chandraswamy”s mother on April 20, Political leaders including Chandra Shekhar and Devi Lal were present. Among the local sants, were Lakshman Kiladish Swamy Sita Ram Saran and Vishwanath Prasadacharya, be sides Mahant Gyan Das. They are said to be associated with Swamy Swarupanand also.
The one snag is the resentment among local sants over takeover of several temples and ashrams m Ayodhya by the Center, under the acquisition ordnance. The process continued well after the initial acquisition of a number of old temples by the Center and the few ants who are visiting New Delhi in connection with the proposed trust, are being blamed for this.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 14, 1993
