AYODHYA: Ina tactical change, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has altered the focus of the Ram temple stir from “demolition and reconstruction” of the shrine to its “renovation.”
A resolution to the effect was adopted at the two-day meeting recently, of the Marg Darshak Mandal the apex steering committee of the VHP.
The Mandal has changed the name of the nine member committee entrusted with temple construction, from the “Mandir Nirman Kram Samiti (Committee to monitor the construction of the temple) to the “Jirnodhhar Kram Samlu” (committee to monitor renovation).
Prominent among other members are WHP General Secretary Ashok Singhal, Mahant Avaidyanath (MP from Gorakhpur), Shankaracharya Vasudevand and of Jyotishpeeth, Parmahans Ramohander Dasand Nritya Gopal Das.
Ram Shankar Agnihotri the area secretary of the VHPO explained “it means the old structure will be renovated. The question of pulling down the old structure does not arise.
The idols of Ram Lalla are already being worshipped inside the Sanctum Sanctorum, How can we remove them?”
Agnihotri said a decision on the structure, will be taken soon, He implied that construction will begin from the site of the Shilanyas on July 9, the day clergymen will ready to lay the foundation of the proposed temple. The 2.77 acre of land acquired by the State last October has been dug up to a depth of 15 feet. Tractor trailers are still leveling the land, whose acquisition has been locally challenged by the Muslims,
The last concrete structure existing on the site (barring of course the shrine) the police control room is being gradually demolished. A new control room has come up in the vicinity of the site.
Vinay Katiyar, Faizabad MP and Bajrang Dal chief, said architects and engineers hired by the VHP were “satisfied” with the level of the foundation and had signaled that construction could begin.
In a stand directly against the Marg Darshak Mandal’s Katiyar stated that the shrine will be eventually demolished “the unearth more proof of the fact that a temple had existed here.”
Katiyar’s contention was made in the context of the claims put forth by a team of archaeologists and historians that a Valsnay temple once stood on this spot after an “examination” of certain arte facts and sculptures claimed to have been unearthed from the Site by the VHP on June 18.
Katiyar said the VHP will not brook obstacles from the Center and that he had exhorted upon the Bajrang Dal activists to surround the disputed site by July 9.
In keeping with Katiyar threats, Marg Darshak Mandal has also warmed various political parties recently, the committee warned, “Anybody trying to place obstacles will be creating a volatile situation. It will be suicidal for them.”
The committee applauded the UP Government for steps taken in Ayodhya over the last one year like constructing the Ram Dewar and leveling the acquired land.
The third resolution adopted acknowledged the “fact” that a temple had existed on the contentious site on the basis of the claims recently made by the VHP sponsored delegation of archaeologists and historians.
It advised all these who had opposed the temple to “review” their attitude. The resolution also thanked those Muslims “who had the courage to accept this truth,
Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1992
