VHP activists, sadhus march to Parliament

Thousands of Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists and sadhus on Monday marched to Parliament in New Delhi to press for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Addressing the agitators on the Parliament Street, Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas chief Ramchandra Das Paramhans said, "We will wait till the court gives its verdict on Ayodhya. But one thing is certain, we will not allow reconstruction of the Babri Masjid dhancha [structure]."

Paramhans said he had hoped that the 'problems of Ayodhya, Kashi and Mathura would be solved' after Atal Bihari Vajpayee became prime minister.

"The temple will be constructed within one-and-a-half years," he said adding that the VHP would conduct a campaign from March 5-25 in Ayodhya and other parts of the country.

Paramhans said Muslim invaders had destroyed 30,000 temples in the country.

He also said that the prime minister was pandering to the 'whims of the minorities in order to cling on to power'.

The VHP was not demanding anybody's land but the birthplace of Lord Ram, he added.

VHP chief Ashok Singhal alleged that the Vajpayee government was godless and called for rooting out secularism from the country. He urged the sants to 'be ready for a Mahabharat against the secularists'.

He said that the Centre had failed to protect the rights of the Hindus.

Singhal praised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for bringing an anti-conversion law in the state.

"Our struggle will continue till the temple is constructed on Ram Janmabhoomi," he said adding that the time had come for the Hindus to unite.

VHP international general secretary Pravin Togadia warned the government that '10 crore Hindus would take to the streets, one crore would embark on a satyagraha and 30 lakh VHP youths are ready for even the ultimate sacrifice if the temple is not constructed'.

The security at the venue was very tight. Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel in riot gear were deployed and several barricades put up at the Sansad Marg leading to Parliament.

Plainclothesmen were also been deployed to keep a watch on disruptive elements, sources said.

Motorists were advised to avoid the Connaught Place area during the time of the demonstration.