NAGPUR: Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar Feb 11 said that his government would not oppose the construction of a temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya if all concerned parties agreed on the demolition of the existing structure there
Talking to newsmen here in Maharashtra state the prime minister also denied that the government was trying to create fissures within the Vishwa Hindu Parishad spearheading the agitation for the construction of a temple at & Mosque site in Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) which Hindus claim is the birthplace of Lord-King Rama.
Expressing concern over growing communalism Chandra Shekhar said problems of Punjab Kashmir and Assam could be solved only through dialogue.
Asked about the fuel stock situation in the country he said that if the gulf war prolonged people should be ready for cuts in supply quota.
These cuts might be necessary as India did not have a mass production base for petroleum products but I hope that the war does not last long he said.
Chandra Shekhar warned unscrupulous elements against creating artificial shortage in the wake of the gulf war and said at present the country had adequate quantities of essential commodities.
The prime minister also said that the coal production in the country had been boosted by 20 to 30 percent to meet any shortfall in the energy sector. However he ruled out privatization of the coal industry. Asked about his views on setting up a national PKE only if there was a consensus on national.
Problems facing the country and ways to resolve them adding however that he did not fore see any such consensus.
About his forthcoming visit to Nepal Chandra Shekhar said there would be an exchange of views between the two neighbors.
On Punjab he said the government was trying its best to solve the problem however there had been no success yet he said
Questioned about his recent meeting with the international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi in Delhi he said in my political life1 have to meet everyone It was a dinner hosted by the Bharatiya Janata party MP Dr J K Jain and I did not see the guest list. It is an Indian tradition that when you are a guest of someone you don’t question him about his other guests.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 15, 1991
