NEW DELHI: Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal on Feb.14 said the BJP rally, which would be held at any cost in the Capital on Feb.25, was aimed at giving vent to the feelings of the Hindus towards the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Speaking at a function organized here by the Ramila Mahasangh to felicitate him, Singhal said the Government would not be allowed to construct a mosque in Ayodhya and warned that “if the Center decided to put any obstacle in the way of building the temple at Ayodhya then other such disputed structures would be demolished,” Singhal threatened that any further “repressive measure against the majority community” by the Center would be “fought on the streets.”

Meanwhile, BJP leaders Madan Lal Khurana and V.K.Malhotra called on Minister of state for Home Affairs Rajesh Pilot and warned the Government of “serious consequences” if the ban imposed on the rally was not lifted.

Khurana told the Minister, “Any repression or crackdown on BJP workers would have serious consequences,”

Describing the ban on the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal as “authoritarian an step,” Singhal said the majority community could support the Narasimha Rao Government “only if it took a U-turn and put an end to its policy of appeasing the minorities.”

Addressing the function, Bajrang Dal chief Vinay Katiyar demanded removal of “obstacles” in the way of worshipping in Ayodhya.

The gathering passed a resolution demanding construction of a temple in Ayodhya, handing over of the disputed land to the VHP”s Ramjamabhoomi Nyas (trust)and revocation of the ban on the RSS, the VHP and the Bajrang Dal.

Barring a Sudden change of heart, a confrontation appeared inevitable on Monday between the Government and the Bharatiya Janata Party over the latter’s proposed rally in Delhi on Feb.25.

Sensing the BJP’s defiant mood, the Government made it clear that the “normal life will not be allowed to be disturbed by the proposed BJP rally.” This assertion was made by Rajesh Pilot, Minister of State for Internal Security, at a meeting with senior officials of the Home Ministry, home secretaries and police chiefs of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Official sources said the meeting lasted nearly one hour and did not discuss any specific proposal, It mainly concentrated on ensuring the coordination between the Center and states in case of the defiance of the ban.

However, informed sources indicated that the meeting had paved the way for the Home Ministry to finalize its contingency plan to deal with the situation. The Home Secretary, Dr.Madhay Godbole, was also present at the meeting.

On its part, the Center assured slate governments that they would be given every support for the maintenance of law and order. He said the Government was keen to assure every citizen that law and order was maintained and normal life would not be allowed to be disturbed by the proposed BJP rally for which no permission had been given, MADRAS: The proposed rally of the BJP at Delhi on Feb,25, though banned, will be held, asserts party general secretary K.N. Govindacharya.

Talking to newsmen on Monday, he said that the rally would be held peacefully at the scheduled venue of Boat Club. Banning it meant only further alienation of the Congress from the people and democracy.

Article extracted from this publication >>  February 19, 1993