NEWS

Mulayam supports Ram temple, claims VHP

By Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad
September 29, 2003

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Monday claimed that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has assured that Ram temple would be built in Ayodhya during his tenure.

VHP international vice-president Acharya Giriraj Kishore Yadav claimed Yadav had also given a commitment that he would not stop devotees from going for darshan at the present makeshift temple at Ayodhya.

"Now, Mulayam Singh is a changed man," Kishore told the press in Hyderabad.

He cited Yadav as saying, 'The UP government will not stop anybody who wants to go to Ayodhya and if any law and order problem arises, we will take action.'

He reiterated the demand that the NDA government should convene a special session of Parliament to enact a law for handing over the disputed site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas for the construction of the Ram temple.


"There is no political compulsion for the BJP for not convening a special session of Parliament on this issue. If the Union government can take a similar action of enacting a special legislation on Shah Bano issue, why not on an issue which involved the vast majority of the people?" he asked.

Kishore warned the government that the VHP will not wait for the court's verdict to start the construction of the temple. "We cannot wait any further. We have already waited for almost several decades," he said.

"The Archaeological Survey of India excavation report has vindicated our stand and further strengthened our argument on the issue. The report has sanctity since the excavation work was supervised by both Hindu and Muslim supervisors," he said.

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

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