NEW DELHI: On Sept.12, the Union Home Minister, S.B.Chavan, set at rest all spiculations about starting the construction of the Ram Temple and the Babri mosque by the two trusts by categorically saying, “as long as Supreme Court is seized of it, the construiction is out of question.”
In an interview with Chavan, he said: “In any case the government should have no role to play in the construction of religious places.
In reply to a question, Chavan Stated that the reconstruction of Akal Takht by the Sikhs themselves was “correct” because it was earlier reconstructed by a govemment sponsored agency which Was not accepted by them. Chavan denied that the govemment was’ setting up two trusts to. construct Ram temple and the Babri mosque. When his attention was drawn towards the statement of his junior minister Rajesh Pilot, that the construction of two structures could begin outside the disputed area and then they could be linked to a “garbha grah” after the Supreme Court verdict. I have not Scen the statement of my junior.” But there was no question of any such move because no activity could begin even in the periphery Outside the 60 acre disputed area, And why should the government step in when the matter is subjudice? We do want an carly verdict and pressing for it. We will move only when there is a clear verdict from the Supreme Court. About the “janadesh yatras” of the BJP leaders, Chavan Said it was shocking that a political Party had no political agenda. Religion seemed to be the Only program of the BP and it was dangerous for the democracy.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 17, 1993
