Demanding that Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati's fresh formula for settlement of the Ayodhya dispute be made public, Vishwa Hindu Parishad international general secretary Pravin Togadia on Monday warned of an agitation if the disputed land is not handed over to Hindus 'unconditionally' for construction of a Ram temple.
Taking objection to 'secret parleys' to resolve the vexed issue, Togadia said any proposal that compromises the self-respect of Hindus would not be acceptable and made it clear that its claims over land in Kashi and Mathura would not be abandoned.
"Ayodhya is not an issue concerning an individual or an organisation, but a matter of faith for millions of Hindus," he said at a press conference in Hyderabad.
He said the nation has the 'right to know' details of the seer's new formula sent to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board last week.
While refraining from criticising the Kanchi shankaracharya, whose fresh initiative has raised expectations of an early solution to the dispute, the VHP leader, however, made it clear that they would not accept 'mortgaging of Hindu pride'.
"We are not sabotaging anybody's efforts and are not against a negotiated settlement. But, it should involve handing over of Ram janmasthan to Hindus unconditionally. We want the Ram temple at any cost and by any method."
Expressing reverence towards the Kanchi seer, Togadia expressed fears that he 'may not be aware of what the Prime Minister's Office is up to'.
Asked why the government is not involving the VHP in the latest efforts to find a solution to Ayodhya imbroglio, he shot back, "Ask the government. We have not been talking to the Vajpayee government since February last year. But we expect them (government) to inform the nation."
Warning of an intensified agitation, he said a national executive meeting of the VHP, scheduled to be held in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) on June 27-28, would deliberate on the future course of action.
A meeting of saints in the first week of July would decide the shape of the agitation, he said adding, "We will ask 35lakh (3.5million) persons to be ready for a prolonged agitation for the sake of the Ram temple and to protect the self-respect of Hindu society."
Rejecting the idea of building a mosque alongside the proposed temple at Ayodhya, the VHP leader said, "If that is the case, let us first build a temple near the Mecca masjid. If it cannot be done, then there is no question of allowing construction of a mosque in Ayodhya."
PTI