NEW DELHI (PTI): A forum of the fundamentalist Hindu Organization, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), would begin nationwide marches of religious leaders and volunteers from October 1 to agitate on various issues, including the Ayodhya dispute and the national economic situation, VHP general secretary Ashok Singhal said Aug.21.
The “Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas Manch” has already served an ul timatum on the government to hand over the disputed Ayodhya site to VHP’s Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas by October 24 the “Vijayadashami” (religious festival) day ~ for construction of a Ram temple there, Hindu fundamentalists believe that the disputed site was the birthplace of their deity Ram and the Babri mosque, which was demolished last December, was built over it.
Singhal told reporters here that “Dharam Jagaran Yatras” (marches for religious awakening) would be taken out at the district and village levels to mobilize people in favor of the VHP on the issues. Reiterating that the temple would be constructed only by the Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas, the VHP leader said if the Ayodhya site was not handed over to it by that day, a “Dharam Sansad” (Religious Parliament) would be called to chart out the future course of action.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 27, 1993
