LUCKNOW (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mr. Kalyan Singh today reiterated that the state government was committed to build the temple at Ayodhya come what may.

He said that if his government was asked to choose between the continuance of his government and the construction of the Ram temple he would opt for the latter. He was addressing a press conference in the Speakers chamber here.

Denouncing the opposition for stalling the proceedings of the Vidhan Sabha all through the day cover the issue Mr Singh said that the treasury benches listened to the opposition on the Ayodhya developments or four hours but did not bother to listen to the government’s viewpoint.

The chief minister said the behavior of the opposition was undemocratic un-parliamentary and in responsible and charged them with fueling and holding up the peaceful situation in the state.

The chief minister said that the government stood by its assurances given in the National Integration Council meeting and so far the disputed shrine was intact and safe.

He said that the government abided by the court verdict and it had never been violated in Ayodhya.

The government was making all the efforts to resolve the Ayodhya dispute amicably and talks were going on with the representatives of the Muslims to find an amicable and negotiated settlement.

The chief minister however said that if the talks failed the government would enact a legislation to construct the Ram temple at the disputed site.

The reply to a question Mr Singh said the government was emppossesed to enact such legislation will in its constitutional rights.

The chief minister said that the government had succeeded in removing most of the hurdles in the way of the construction of the temple. However the construction job would be taken up by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad at an appropriate time.

On the Centers threat to exercise Article 356 if the state government did not follow the Centers directives on the issue Mr. Kalyan Singh said he had received three fax messages from the Union home department and the home minister Ms. Chavan early today and he had promptly replied to them in detail.

The state government did not believe in any confrontation with the Center. Rather it believed in cooperation with the Center on all matters.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 10, 1992