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VHP fails to decide a date
for temple construction

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panjim

The two-day meet of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which concluded in Goa on Thursday, failed to decide a date to start temple construction at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

The Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal, which deliberated on several issues at Panjim, including alleged forced conversions in tribal areas, decided to constitute a Ram Mandir Nirman Samiti and mobilise kar sevaks for the construction work.

"We will announce the exact date of construction only at the Dharm Sansad scheduled for January 9 at Prayag," said VHP working president Ashok Singhal at a crowded press conference.

The meeting proposed to recruit kar sevaks from 300,000 villagers from all over the country.

"The nirman samiti will immediately take up this work," said Singhal.

Singhal denied he had ever said that the Panjim meet would decide on the date of commencement of construction work at Ayodhya. "There are no second thoughts on the temple construction," he said.

Singhal denied that the Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal does not want to embarrass the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre and is thus delaying the announcement of a date. "We are not bothered about what political parties think about our programme," he added.

Singhal said the BJP had disappointed the VHP. "We expect Parliament to discuss the issue and authorise construction of the temple. No political party would benefit by delaying the issue," he said.

Ramchandradas Paramhans, the 90-year-old mahant from Ayodhya, who will head the nirman samiti, expressed confidence that the BJP would do what its feels right once it comes to power with absolute majority at the Centre.

"You must understand that they are leading a coalition government," he said.

Alleging that there is a political design behind delaying the pending court case, he said the nirman samiti would go ahead with the construction, no matter what the court, Parliament or the government decides.

"We will not accept the court order if it does not allow us to build the temple," he declared.

EARLIER REPORTS
Agreement in Sangh Parivar on temple construction: Singhal
Goa divided over VHP's national meet

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