Sangh stays announcement of temple construction date for now

Sangh stays announcement of temple construction date for now
HARISH GUPTA

NEW DELHI, JAN 14: The Vajpayee Government got a breather today as hardliners within the Sangh Parivar indicated that the date of construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya would be pushed to October-November 2002.

Though a formal announcement in this regard will be made by the Dharam Sansad (religious parliament) at its three-day convention beginning January 19, an informal decision has already been taken that the actual construction will begin during the Dussehra festival season next year.

The two-year time-frame has been given by the VHP to the Government to resolve the ticklish issue, either through negotiations with the leaders of the Muslim community or courts.

The VHP will start mobilising five lakh bhajan mandalis from five lakh villages across the country during this intervening period of two years.

The Ram Janambhoomi Trust will hold its two-day meeting tomorrow at Ayodhya where a decision will be taken about the likely date of the construction. Thereafter, the Trust will convey to the Dharam Sansad its decision and programme of action and the same is likely to be approved by it.

When contacted, Manohar Puri, an official spokesman of the VHP said thatthe Ayodhya movement in 1992 had mobilised three lakh people after a massive effort was made for almost two years. ``Now we want to mobilise five lakh people. Obviously, this will take time,'' he said.

However, Puri did not disclose the exact date. He said the statement given by M.G. Vaidya, spokesman of the RSS, that temple construction could be deferred till April 2002 was a conjecture only. ``It could be their desire,'' was all he would say.

Sources say that the Prime Minister had held a series of telephonic talks with senior Sangh leaders from abroad and impressed upon them that no such action be taken. It was also reportedly conveyed to them that the Government will initiate a dialogue between the two sides to sort out the tangle. However, if the date of construction is announced by the VHP and Dharam Sansad within this year, it will pose a serious threat to the National Democratic Alliance.

BJP chief Bangaru Laxman also made a statement to the effect that his party would find it difficult to support the programme and pursue the NDA agenda. Even Shanta Kumar, Union Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs, advised the VHP not to announce the date as it will not help the country.

It is learnt that the Government got in touch with the three Sankaracharyas and sought their help. They will be attending the Dharam Sansad.

Interestingly, Dalai Lama will also be visiting Allahabad and meeting the Hindu religious leaders. The idea behind the meeting between the Buddhist Monk and Hindu religious leaders is to enhance mutual co-operation, say these sources.