VHP yet again raises temple issue

In what could possibly be part of a plan to exploit the Ram temple issue during the February assembly elections, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has reiterated its intention to go ahead with the construction of the proposed temple at Ayodhya.

"Come what may, we will launch the construction of the Ram temple," VHP senior vice president Giriraj Kishore declared in Lucknow on Monday.

While the exact date for launching the construction of the temple would be decided at the proposed 'dharma sansad'  [religious parliament] on February 22, VHP would actively support the task, he said.

"We gave up our own plans to undertake the temple construction last year following the prime minister's open declaration that he had a permanent solution to the centuries old tangle," he said.

"However, eventually we were duped. This time, we are not willing to fall in this trap," the VHP leader said.

"Last time, we had asked the government to hand over the 2.77 acres of undisputed land to enable us to start the construction of the temple, but this time we will not disclose our strategy," Kishore said.

The VHP had constituted a committee to implement the decisions taken by the last dharma sansad, held one year back, with regard to the temple construction.

However, the panel, led by former Uttar Pradesh DGP and BJP ex-MLA from Varanasi S C Dikshit and comprising senior VHP leaders Rajendra Singh 'Pankaj' and Champat Rai, had failed to come up with any concrete plan of action.