AYODHYA: The Kendriya Marg Darshal Mandal a steering Betty of 16 Hindu religious heads is meeting here on December 4 to decide whether to fall in line or oppose the undertaking given by the Kalyan Singh Government to the Supreme Court.

The unscheduled meeting has again thrown a veil of uncertainty over events of Ayodhya Nov.29 saw the sami and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VP) cadres marching in with Swami Vamdeo who heads the so-called temple renovation committee leading the pack.

It is possible that Hindu religious head will agree to perform a symbolic kar seva on December 6. But such a decision may not be accepted by all.

Mahant Mitya Gopal Das a prominent hard-liner and vice president to the Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagy Samiti on Sunday hinted at a possible revolt by a section of the Bajrang Dal.

“The saints do not have complete control over the Bajrang Dal. There are some elements in the Dal who cannot be tamed given their commitment and belief in Hindutva and the Ram Janmabhoomi. The saints cannot be held responsible for the actions of this section. And who knows what the saints decide on December 4” said Nritya Gopal Das ensconced within the safe confines of Maniramdas-ki-Chhawni in the heart of Ayodhya.

The indications are that there will be some sort of a show of strength on December 6 and if cadres behave in a manner which could Cause a law and order problem the VHP and even the saints –let-alone the BJP will quickly dissociate themselves from the unruly lot. It will be left to the securitymen to deal with the situation.

VHP sources hinted at moves to provoke securitymen into making preventive arrests. If they succeed in bringing about such a situation the VHP will be out to extract maximum publicity to swing public opinion but the theory which takes the cake is the one hovering around the Allahabad High Court and its awaited verdict on a petition challenging the acquisition of the 2.77 acre disputed plot. The VHP has already started clamoring for the verdict making noises that the final bench judgment be announced at the earliest.

“If there is any word from the Allahabad High Court we shall resume construction without delay. Whatever the judgment temple construction can commence If the court says the State Government was within its right to acquire the land we are free to go ahead since the land was transferred to the Janmabhoomi Trust. And if the court strikes down the acquisition even then construction can begin since the acquired land will revert to its original owners. Eighty per cent of the land in question is now owned by the VHP. Remember that December 6 is a Sunday. Let people run to the courts. “We shall commence construction” said a VHP functionary.

It is wide theory based on the assumption that the court verdict will be announced before December 6. But the VHP is banking on it. What if such a thing does not happen and the court remains silent “The saints will have decided on the nature of the kar seva. And let us see the mood of the kar seyaks coming in” and the VHP man.

Article extracted from this publication >> December 11, 1992