NEW DELHI: The fundamentalist Vishwa Hindu Parishad which was spearheaded the more than three month old agitation for restoration of a Ram Temple at the controversial Mosque site in Ayodhya Wednesday demanded that three disputed shrines in Ayodhya Mathura and Varanasi be handed over to Hindus.
The VHP warned the federal government and Uttar Pradesh government of serious consequences if this was not done.
Addressing a press conference VHP general secretary Ashok Singhal said the government should bring legislation for this.
Stating that the VHP had submitted irrefutable documentary evidence on the disputed shrine in Ayodhya Singhal said the government should take a decision on its own regarding Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath shrine in Varanasi. Regarding the shrines in Mathura and Varanasi the VHP leader said there was no deed for providing evidence for these places as there was ample evidence already existent at these sites itself.
Only if these three shrines are handed over to the Hindus will we forego our claims on 3000 such sites all over the country Singhal said.
Commenting on the five rounds of talks on the Ayodhya dispute between the VHP and the All India Babri Masjid action committee he said it was for the Muslim leaders now to find out ways so that they could honorably withdraw their claims and strengthen good relation between the two communities.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 22, 1991
