NEW DELHI: There were clear indications that the Ram Janam bhoomi- Babri Masjid issue would once again be played up by the BJP.VHP-RSS combine now that the ekta yatra program has been completed. The VHP supremo Ashok Singhal and the construction of the Ram temple would begin very soon and by the end of the year considerable progress will have been made.
The Kalyan Singh government has submitted before the Allahabad high court on January 6 that the land that had been acquired last year for tourism purposes around the disputed structure at Ayodhya was to be utilized for constructing a temple which was to be the main attraction in the temple township. A final judgment of the court is expected on January 19 Singhal said
In its interim order passed last year the court had asked the state government as to what use the and acquired would be put and had restrained it from transferring the same to any person or body. “But that does not prevent the state government from assigning the work of constructing the temple to the Ram Janambhoomi trust” Singhal said. He did not foresee any major hurdle in the way of temple construction.
He disclosed that the chief minister Kalwin Singh had been meeting religious leaders all over the country and during his recent visit to southern states had met some important leaders and explained to them the progress about his talks with Muslim leaders and matters related to the temple construction. The BJP government was continuing with its efforts at finding & solution through dialogue with Muslim leaders.
“But there has been a significant change in the stand of Muslim leaders now. Earlier they had been saying that it was proved that the Babri Masjid had been built after demolishing a temple they would give up their claim to the structure. Now they say that even if this was proved they would still recognize the structure as a mosque and nota temple. Even Ali Mian (a respected “Muslim leader) is said to hold this view” Singhal said.
According to him except the structure (80 feet by 40 feet) no part of the land around it was disputed and had been bought by the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust. The exact date when the wok would: begin in full swing at Ayodhya would be decided by a sub-committee formed for the purpose by the Margadarshak Mandal body of religious leaders. The committee is headed by Swami Vamdev Mahara.
What if Muslims did not agree to hand over the shrine by the time the temple construction work from the “shilanyas site reaches the structure? Singhal cryptically remarked Bahubal meaning muscle-power would be resorted to and said he had no objection to his being quoted on this. Asked when the BJP government would bring a legislation taking over the structure he said personally he did not think a legislation was required a notification issued by the executive should be enough.
Singhal said so far there had been no talks with the Prime| Minister P.V. Narasimha Raoon the Ayodhya issue but grinned sheepishly when asked whether any person in the “RSS family had been maintaining contact with the government on this issue. So far there had been no occasion for centering in to a confrontation with the Narasimha Reo government he admitted.
Singhal participated in a felicitation function of the BIP president M.M.Joshi at the party headquarters here by Maharshi You Foundation. Nearly 50 student clad in bright yellow attire changed Vedic hymns on the occasion. The felicitation was on the completion of ekta Yatra.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 14, 1992
